CAPE TOWN-A team of volunteers is hard at work beautifying the gardens in the Noordhoek area and is appealing for assistance.
The group representing the non-profit organisation On the Verge (OTV) have been gardening the verges of Noordhoek every Wednesday since 2013.
OTV helps to create gardens and plant trees in public spaces and along main road verges that are not cared for by specific homeowners, said spokesperson Cara Kapp.
Chair, Kathy Fish, recalls being inspired to spearhead this initiative after witnessing the poor state of gardening in the Noordhoek area.
“We live in paradise, and yet our verges were such an eyesore. I mentioned it to a friend and she said: ‘stop talking about it and do something’ and without fail we are somewhere to be seen on a Wednesday, clearing, planting, pruning or weeding, along the roadsides in Noordhoek.
“We are also dedicated to providing job security for our team of men and to try and acquire additional work for them in the neighbourhood.” She adds that they aim to encourage all Noordhoek residents to enjoy the beautiful valley. “By opening up greenbelts and creating safe footpaths and bridle paths that will facilitate access to the mountain and sea.”
The gardener’s goal is to encourage residents to practise a culture of gardening and beautify their own verges. Through a partnership with the annual Open Gardens event and Noordhoek Tourism, On the Verge hopes to continue and to expand their community work, helping to preserve the beauty of the valley and to support the men who garden for them.
However, the gardeners are struggling with a lack of planting material for new gardens,” said Fish.
“It’s also a challenge working in bad weather and seeing residents dumping their garden pruning over their boundary wall onto greenbelt verges,” she said.
This year, the Open Gardens is set to return for its 11th edition and will take place on Saturday 18 October, and Sunday 19 October.
For more information Contact Kathy Fish at info@poohcorner.co.za.
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