The City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department advises the public that it will commence its mowing schedule at parks and public open spaces at the end of November 2022, to allow for spring flowers and a variety of indigenous plants to bloom – not just for aesthetic appeal, but also in aid of conservation.
The City’s Recreation and Parks Department has adopted a ‘no mowing’ position during late winter and early spring.
This is an annual occurrence to conserve and protect plant species and allowing them to complete the annual growth cycle, between August and November.
Current weather patterns indicate that flowers will start blooming earlier this year, with some already starting to show their colours.
Mowing will be suspended in Public Open Spaces (POS), Parks, Greenbelts and road verges that have been identified as special portions of land that contain important vegetation.
The aim is to protect ecological processes that promote the growth of distinctive Fynbos vegetation. Some areas also act as conservation corridors, connecting to other open spaces, nature reserves and national parks, ensuring a healthy network of interconnected environments. When flowering, the areas will display fields of colour with a variety of spring flowers which residents can enjoy. Flowers also play an important role in the pollinating process.
‘The opportunity to see the tiny flowers and allowing them to mature and seed undisturbed, comes at the cost of letting grass grow where they are found. What appears to be untidy patches of un-mowed grass at times, is in actual fact a sound environmental management tool that allows the flowers to grow undisturbed, so that they survive for many generations to come. It is beautiful to see annual flowers such as yellow centered, bright-orange and white daises on a sunny day, and we ask our residents to join us on this very important and exciting ecological journey,’ said the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross.
Once the endemic flowers have produced adequate seeds towards the end of the ‘no mow’ period, routine mowing maintenance schedules can resume.
A comprehensive list of the areas that are partially mowed and where mowing will be suspended until November can be accessed here: https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre%20Assets/Recreation%20and%20Parks%20Department%20Mowing%20Lists%202022.pdf
Residents can apply for their community park or portions of green spaces in their area to be added to the list.
Email RP.Enquiries@capetown.gov.za with the location, some evidence of the flowers and support from neighbours living in close proximity to the area.
Source: City Of Cape Town