A gardener’s legacy comes to life
LYME PARK – Pauline Dickson has spent more than half of her life dedicated to the preservation of indigenous flora at St Stithians College.
Pauline Dickson is an environmentalist whose passion has fuelled four decades spent working to rehabilitate and preserve the natural environment at St Stithians College.
In her book A Gardener’s Legacy, readers can immerse themselves in the journey she has walked with a metaphorical hose in her hand, tending to the lush expansive land on the school’s grounds which forms part of the old Driefontein Farm.
Dickson first fell in love with the school while looking for her a school for her two sons. After she decided to enrol them, she was invited by the school to share her expertise regarding the vegetation in 1979. Forty years later, the grandmother mused that she has begun to see the fruits of her labour ripen and is eager to share her journey in her book. Her book, A Gardener’s Legacy was four years in production and is available at The Stythian Shop on the St Stithians College campus.
Dickson recalled the long history she has with the school and how her involvement with the school was meant to last as long as a term, which turned into a year, which has turned into 40 years. Over half of her life has been dedicated to the tender love and care at the school. Apart from her two sons who were educated at Saints, Dickson has six grandchildren who have also attended the school.
With vigour, the author’s extensive work at the school has extended to Ward 102. As a member of the environmental committee since 2001, Dickson explained that her passion is an heirloom from her grandmother and encouraged community members to get involved in the mission to preserve the environment, as well as teach their children to value the indigenous landscape as it is a never-ending project.
“I don’t see an end to my work. I think when you start to see an end to your work is when you cease to be an environmentalist.”
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