Residents of the Westdene community came together, rolling up their sleeves to beautify a neglected field adjacent to the Eeufees Oord Retirement Village. They cleared rubbish and planted greenery along 3rd Avenue, sparked by concerns over illegal dumping and overgrown vegetation, which had turned the area into a security risk.

The community also launched an ‘Adopt a plant’ initiative, with many plants sponsored and contributed by local residents.

Read more: ERA clean-up sparks hope and transformation

Brian Smith, a Westdene resident and one of the organisers, explained the motivation behind the project. “There has been a lot of illegal dumping here, and the field hasn’t been maintained for years. We noticed it was becoming a place where individuals could hide, which posed a safety concern. We believe in the broken window principle – if things start going wrong in a community, it can quickly spiral out of control. So, a few of us got together, with some weed eaters, and started clearing the area.”

After clearing the overgrown grass and weeds, the group began planting indigenous trees and plants to restore the field’s natural beauty. The goal was not only to clean up the space, but also to create a proud, welcoming area for Westdene residents. The initiative also served as a social gathering, with neighbours meeting, sharing laughs, and enjoying a braai together.

Also read: Community clean-up restores pride in public spaces

“This is the third time we’ve done a clean-up like this, and each time more people come out to help,” said Smith. “The support has been brilliant, and we hope this is just the start of something bigger. Fixing a neighbourhood has to start at the street level. Sometimes tackling an entire neighbourhood can be overwhelming, but if you get your neighbours involved, it makes a real difference.”

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