Ahead of Earth Day on April 22, community improvement non-profit organisation (NPO) Better Bedfordview encouraged residents to embrace sustainable, earth-friendly ways to keep their neighbourhood clean and green.

This included how they deal with fallen leaves and weeds in pavements.

The NPO also appealed to everyone in Bedfordview and across the country to take pride in and help preserve precious green spaces, such as Bedfordview’s Oriel Park.

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Leave the leaves

As fallen autumn leaves began to blanket pavements and gardens, Better Bedfordview urged residents and businesses to think twice before putting them into plastic bags and discarding them.

“Fallen leaves are nature’s free mulch and compost,” said Better Bedfordview’s gardening and landscaping committee head Carol Payne.

“When we remove them, we’re throwing away something incredibly valuable.”

Instead of ending up in plastic bags and already overburdened landfills, leaves collected by Better Bedfordview’s cleanup team are repurposed.

They are spread as mulch around trees and plants and layered into compost heaps to create nutrient-rich soil.

“It is important to leave space around tree trunks and plant stems and not pile the leaves right up against them as this can kill plants,” Payne stressed.

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Fallen leaves enrich and feed the soil as they break down.

They help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

They protect plant roots from temperature fluctuations.

“It’s a simple, sustainable practice that delivers healthier plants, stronger soil and less waste. It’s about working with nature, not against it,” Payne added.

Ditch the toxic chemicals and ‘a-salt’ weeds instead

Payne said Earth Day was also an opportunity to reconsider the chemicals we use in our environment.

In line with its eco-conscious approach, Better Bedfordview adopted a simple solution to weeds sprouting between pavings: pool salt.

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“Many people don’t realise that you don’t need toxic herbicides to deal with weeds,” Payne noted. “At Better Bedfordview, we use pool salt.”

Applied carefully – often with a small amount of water or just before light rain – Payne observed that the salt effectively eliminates weeds and delivers longer-lasting results than many conventional methods.

Importantly, she said, it avoids introducing harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater.

However, Payne cautioned that even natural solutions should be used responsibly.

“Salt can still affect surrounding plants, so it must be applied with care.”

Restoring, improving and maintaining shared spaces

Through its annual Best Pavements Competition, Better Bedfordview encourages residents to do their part in beautifying shared spaces.

Beyond this, the NPO plays a vital role in maintaining and enhancing public spaces across the suburb, including restoring and improving Oriel Park in the heart of Bedfordview.

“Who doesn’t love visiting a beautiful park to picnic, exercise or simply unwind?” said Better Bedfordview chairperson Marina Constas.

“Our parks are green havens away from traffic, offices and artificial environments. They support both environmental health and our own well-being. We need to treasure and preserve green spaces like Oriel Park.”

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The transformation did not go unnoticed. Residents took to social media to share their appreciation.

Madeleen Stewart said, “Thank you so much! It is a blessing to walk in a beautiful, clean park! Stream is cleaned up, and the trees are trimmed! Massive job!”

“All involved are amazing. Thank you,” commented Linda Oliveira.

Ivone Carvalho’s observation summed it up perfectly: “If we all contribute, Better Bedfordview could do much more.”

Constas noted, “This gem in our community is shining again. But whether it stays this way depends on everyone in our neighbourhood. Better Bedfordview is an apolitical, volunteer-led NPO that depends on funding from caring residents and businesses to keep cleaning up, restoring and maintaining our roads, pavements, parks and public spaces.”

She added that their vision is to improve their neighbourhoods and ultimately South Africa, one suburb at a time.

While improving, uplifting and maintaining the area, Better Bedfordview was creating employment for youth and previously unemployed South Africans.

“There are currently 25 people working in Better Bedfordview’s cleanup team. How much we can keep doing depends on community support. South Africans can keep lamenting service delivery gaps, or they can take action and get involved with and donate to organisations like Better Bedfordview,” Constas stated.

“It’s up to each of us to decide what kind of environment we want to live in and what we leave for future generations.

Together, we can build a cleaner, greener, more sustainable South Africa – one suburb and one action at a time, from donating to NPOs like Better Bedfordview to leaving the leaves and replacing toxic herbicides with simple pool salt.”

For more information, email info@betterbedfordview.org.za