For more than 60 years, Leon Botha has called Ballito home. But for the past five, the 72-year-old has taken on a new role – that of the unofficial guardian of Townsend Park.

Concerned about the park’s greenery and its future for the next generation, Leon began planting trees to ensure that the space won’t be left bare and soulless.

“Planting trees has become my passion,” said Leon.

“If the community does not continue planting trees, there will be none when the older ones die and that would be sad.”

He’s planted a wide variety of species, including toad, coral, mango, avocado, wild Cape plum, red beech and waterberry. Though he humbly admits, “I have learned about trees through working with them. I am still not an expert.”

Leon’s efforts extend beyond planting. He protects young saplings from municipal weed-eaters by staking them with plastic pipes and he cordons off older trees with wooden barriers.

“It is not just me who plants trees; there are other households who look after the park,” he adds, highlighting the community’s shared commitment.

Across the road from his home of 46 years lies the Butterfly Forest, a once-grassy area transformed in the 1980s by an elderly resident.

“Old man Hudson started the Butterfly Forest,” explains Leon, who still checks on the health of the forest occasionally.

“He had arranged with the Ballito Lions Club and the municipality that he would look after the ground behind the clubhouse and they would look after the land in front of their building, up to the old tennis courts.”

Initially met with scepticism, the forest is now a thriving green space filled with red beech, wild olive, fever, black bird-berry, silver fern, camel foot, fig and Natal and forest mahogany trees, among many others.

“We thought he had lost it,” Leon chuckles. “But he did us all a huge favour. He created this wonderful piece of nature.”

Leon continues Hudson’s legacy by labelling the trees he plants in Townsend Park in English, Afrikaans and Zulu – when he remembers. In a world of fleeting trends, his quiet dedication is a lasting gift to Ballito.

“I am doing this because I want to. It’s for the community, but also for myself.”

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