To celebrate Youth Day, a group of young people rolled up their sleeves and planted water lilies at the Princess Vlei Park on Monday June 16.
Up to 20 teens joined the Princess Vlei Forum for a planting session, which took place at their heart-shaped seasonal pond, said Ward 72 councillor Kevin Southgate.
Princess Vlei is a wetland on the Cape Flats.
In 2014, a five-year community campaign successfully prevented the development of a shopping mall on its banks.
The Princess Vlei Forum is now working with the community and the City to restore the biodiversity and transform the 110 ha into a world-class heritage site celebrating its rich natural, social and cultural heritage.
“But the struggle is not over; the site has been badly neglected and we are still working to ensure the City invests the resources the Princess Vlei needs,” wrote the Forum in its website.”
All the plants, spades and gardening equipment were provided for the participants at the event. “It was an honour spending Youth Day with the community for the planting session as its part of our ongoing rehabilitation programme at Princess Vlei park. I would like to thank all the youth who took part in this exercise.”
