Residents are getting to work to cleanup the Johannesburg Botanitcal Gardens top dam over February
On February 8, 15, and 22 anyone that wants to make a difference in the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens is invited to lend a hand in the cleanup operation.
Much like busy beavers, locals got hard at work clearing the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens top dam of weeds and rubbish on February 1.
One of the organisers, Sam Horwitz, who uses the park frequently, said she appreciated the work that was put in to restore the dam but also noticed all the overgrown weeds as well as rubbish that had washed up against the bank. Seeing this, she reached out to Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) to help organise a joint cleanup of the area.
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The Parkview resident said, as beneficiaries of the Botanical Gardens it is important to her to contribute to it in ways she can. “I think it is all very well to say: ‘We pay our rates and taxes’, but it is also more than that. We need to be invested in our environment, pay attention to it and what it looks like, and participate as a community.”
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Those who were part of the cleanup were: JCPZ staff as well as co-operatives, teams from Let’s Work, learners from St. Teresa’s, Melville Security Initiative, as well as park users and dog walkers. “It is so encouraging to see this,” said Horwitz.
Dog walker Wendy Ludewig, who frequents the dam maybe three times a week, said after she saw the dam bank being invaded with invasive species she thought to herself how she would definitely want to be part of a cleanup, if not form one of her own. So, when she heard of this cleanup was taking place, she knew she wanted to be part of it. “My family and I love the park and we want it to be pretty, so, we’re doing our part to help.”
Due to high demand, the cleanup will place on the coming three Saturdays as well.
Where: Johannesburg Botanical Gardens top dam (dog walking side)
When: February 8, 15, and 22
Time: Anytime between 06:00 to 10:00
What to bring: hat, work gloves, water, sunscreen, garden forks, and spades
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