Zen Garden for Owl lovers
Cedar Lakes Owl Programme re-furbishes its Zen Garden for residents to come and enjoy the peace and quiet at the owl centre.
Cedar Lakes Owl Programme has re-furbished its Zen Garden which houses the Cedar Lakes Owl release enclosure. According to the group, in 2019 Cedar Lake’s environmental committee suggested having a Zen Garden, for residents to come and relax and enjoy peace and quiet, and the owl area was chosen.
“It is amazing to finally see the owl project incorporated with the estate living. We dedicate this garden to our late friend Christine Maritz, who founded the idea of a zen-like garden to encompass the raptor/owl release pen,” said Mike Prior, committee member and founder of the Owl Release Programme.
The Owl Release Programme was started in Cedar Lakes in 2017, the project is managed and run by the Cedar Lakes Owl Group under the guidance of Ecosolutions. A piece of ground was set aside for this purpose and an owl release enclosure was built to house the owls until they were ready to fly free. The project team consists of four Residents and a group of 20 volunteers who feed the owls daily.
“Since inception in 2017, Cedar Lakes has had 14 release clutches comprising a total of 27 raptors: 16 Barn Owls, African Spotted Eagle Owls, and one Black Winged Kite. Most of the owls move off after release, but some have remained in the area for quite a while. A Spotted Eagle Owl named Zenifer stayed for 67 days after her release, and another Chancer also remained a delighted Cedar Lakes resident by often appearing on the rails at the pool area or on the floodlit tennis courts 73 days after his release,” Prior added.
When it was finally decided that the Zen Garden needed a facelift, the Cedar Lakes Environmental Committee and appointed Ute Made and her landscape team to spearhead the operation. The new upgrades see gravel and old plants removed, improved stormwater drainage, refurbished and varnished owl enclosure, and lighting, irrigation, and a new water feature more suitable for birds to land on and drink from installed.
“Time has taken its toll on the lovely garden, I was excited and honoured to be the one in charge of the garden revamp. Cutting the ribbon for me represented new beginnings and a bright start for the Owl Sanctuary,” said Made, Cedar Lakes Environmental committee member.
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