A project to clear alien flora and reintroduce indigenous plants to Muizenberg Park is gaining momentum.
Last week, Friends of Muizenberg Park announced the exciting project to restore the park, including Peck’s stream.
Friends chair Nicci Giles explained: “Friends of Muizenberg Park has been around since 2013 and one of our key aims is for people to enjoy this space.
“Over the years we’ve had picnics, concerts in the parks and walks to identify special plants.”
Muizenberg Park also has a significant history attached which makes it extra special, she adds.
“The park is very special when it comes to heritage; the Khoi used to use Peck’s Stream, there was the battle of Muizenberg and the British soldiers.
“Fynbos Life has identified that there are four endangered sites; The Cape Flats Dune strand veld, the Peninsula granite fynbos, the Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos and the Cape lowland freshwater wetland.
She added they aimed to clean the park of alien flora to restore it to its former glory.
“With many locals left with fond memories of the lotus flowers that once filled the park, bridal parties who would arrive to have their photos taken beside the stream or children playing in the crystal-clear waters, our plan is to clean it, clear it of alien flora and reintroduce indigenous plants.
“We want to turn it back into a beautiful natural feature for our village to enjoy.”
Established in 2013, The Friends of Muizenberg Park aims to conserve, maintain, protect and upgrade the park.
“We have received generous support from community members, especially Muizenberg Improvement District (MID) allowing us to work with an architect and the city to design a ‘master plan’.
“An anonymous donor, who wanted to see the stream rehabilitated, approached us and the MID, so we worked together with the City and all the stakeholders,” Giles told People’s Post.
According to the Friends, Phase one of the restoration work, which will take approximately four weeks, comprises of clearing alien vegetation, excluding trees.
“The clearing should take three to four weeks, after that for the second phase, we still need approval to do landscaping and sourcing/ identifying of plants and planting from the municipality.
“We aim to create a park that works for everyone.”
