Community Projects – Residents Taking Control!
There are people who complain and people who talk a lot and then there are people who Do Something! We would like to salute the residents of “Dawncliffe Square” (which encompasses 79 homes in Spring Grange, Ribston, O’Connor, Glen Heath and McNess) who got together and decided to clean up their area.
Indigenous plants, shrubs and trees have been planted along some of the verges and certain key common areas, such as the corner of Ribston and Dawncliffe, the open area between Ribston and O’Connor and the pathway at the bottom of Glenheath which leads to Chiral Drive.
Working together on these projects builds wonderful, positive community spirit and residents of Westville are encouraged to take ownership and care for their own verges and open spaces.
Let us know if you have something similar happening in your area. We would love to show case residents who are getting together to improve their own turf and are helping to make Westville not only a beautiful place, but are creating pockets of indigenous flora that will attract insects and other wild life, thus helping to preserve our wonderful biodiversity.
Please contact the Conservancy if you would like any advice on Invasive Alien Plant Removal or on suitable Locally Indigenous Plants.
Please send us an email to info@westvilleconservancy.co.za
Salamanca Triangle
At the end of 2021, members from Westville Conservancy’s Friends of Dawncliffe Parks joined forces with Dawncliffe Square to revamp the Salamanca Triangle.
The invasive alien trees and exotic palms were cut down by Bob Raghbur and the team from Friends of Dawncliffe Parks then removed the rest of the invasive plants and weeds and redefined the edges of the garden. Compost and organic fertilizer, which was kindly donated by Plants a Plenty was applied to the newly dug area, and a layer of mulch donated by Waste Management Services completed the preparation process.
Planting began in January 2021 with some aloes and succulents and a variety of colourful shrubs all donated by friends, residents and the Conservancy. In winter we had a beautiful kaleidoscope of colour attracting butterflies and bees! AAM Garden Services is assisting with the upkeep and grass cutting around the garden.
Thank you to the Team who have generously donated time, advice, plant, services and support – Ayanda, Protus, Victor, Petros, Nathaniel, Etienne, Lindani, Warren, Pam, Patty, Jenni, Desmond, Sue, Wendy, Chris, Carol and Rory. Plus a huge thank you to Bob Raghbur Tree Felling, Plants A Plenty, Waste Management Services and AAM Garden Services
“Welcome to Dawncliffe” Garden
The Conservancy has also worked with Rory and residents of Dawncliffe to revamp and the open patch on the corner of Lancaster Terrace and Dudley Road to turn this into a “Welcome to Dawncliffe” indigenous garden. We started with mapping out the proposed garden area and large quantities of rubble were removed. Then we brought in some topsoil, large rocks,, which were manoeuvred into position by employees from Lovemore Brothers. Compost and mulch were applied and lastly a variety of aloes, shrubs and ground-covers that were donated by community members were added. Six Cubs from the Wandsbeck Cubs Group also joined in one evening to plant some aloes and euphorbia for us! AAM Garden Services have been maintaining the grass around the garden.
Yet again the community has come together to create and maintain a beautiful indigenous garden.