A group of dedicated volunteers joined Jozi Trails for an invasive plant removal session at the Florence Bloom Bird Sanctuary in Delta Park.

The session focused on clearing Purpletop Vervain (Verbena bonariensis), a category 1b weed that has been spreading across local grasslands. According to Jozi Trails liaison officer Sam Brown, the plant poses a serious threat to indigenous vegetation, growing quickly, spreading easily, and often pushing out endemic species. It is also poisonous to livestock and other herbivores.

Read more: Invasive alien plants threaten Randburg’s natural ecosystem

Brown explained that the best way to remove the weed is to pull it out by the roots, and take the flowers off-site to stop further seeding.

Several volunteers spent hours helping with the removal, including Bridget and Lindsay Hendry, Vicki O’Brien, Clare Mashate, Zihan Lin, Tam Scheidegger, Antje Schneider, Daniel Eksteen, and Anton Eksteen.

Also read: Cosy up your home with indoor plants

To help restore the disturbed soil and encourage biodiversity, the team also planted and propagated Vigna vexillata, a hardy indigenous grassland plant known to support bees and butterflies. This was done to test whether the species can re-establish itself in areas where the alien plants have been cleared.

Brown said this is only the beginning of a long-term plan to improve the sanctuary, and the greater Braamfontein Spruit area. Jozi Trails aims to gradually remove alien invasive species and reintroduce more indigenous plants to bring back a richer variety of flora and fauna. “This is just the first of many removal efforts in the sanctuary. By restoring endemic plants and removing alien invasives, we hope to encourage more life back into Johannesburg’s green spaces.”

The team plans to continue these efforts over the coming months, as part of Jozi Trails’ broader biodiversity programme.

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