A pavement planting area has been established on the greenbelt along Darling Street close to the junction with Skaife Street in Scott Estate and Baviaanskloof Community Improvement District (SEBCID).
The CID has partnered with Sun and Soil, who provide personalised garden coaching sessions in indigenous planting and growing for biodiversity, to create a pavement planting plan.
Botanist, garden coach and Sun and Soil founder, Michelle Malan said she got involved in this project through SEBCID member Jemimah Birch and the Hout Bay Friends of the Rivers. “We discussed creating a pavement planting that demonstrates to residents how locally indigenous plants can be used to create an attractive and low water use feature that also supports wildlife by creating pockets of food plants and habitat,” said Ms Malan.
Helen Snell, who chairs the CID’s board, said they were happy to fund the project.
Ms Malan said it was important for it to be planted in winter so that the plants could have a few months of rain to establish themselves before the dry summer arrives. Once established most of the plants should survive the summer without additional watering.
“I’m sure residents will be curious to see which struggle and which are the toughest,” said Ms Malan.
She said that as the planting matures she will be working with the team from Aloe Africa, who maintain the area, showing them how to treat the plants. Residents of the SEBCID will also be invited to these sessions. “We hope that this will inspire more residents to use locally indigenous plants on their pavements and in their gardens, and think about the value of these plants to the wildlife we are lucky to still have around us,” said Ms Malan.
Ms Snell summarised the aims for the pavement planting:
To showcase how locally indigenous plants can be used to create a beautiful planting area.
To increase biodiversity by reintroducing plant species from the South Peninsula Granite veld type, as well as creating a steppingstone of wildlife friendly vegetation across what is currently a mown area.
To educate residents and gardeners in the identification, planting and maintenance of locally indigenous plants.
The bed was prepared on Wednesday June 21 and residents and their gardeners were invited for the planting and also a talk on the following day with about 20 residents popping in and out.
For more information, contact helen.SEBCID@gmail.com
