Is the grass in your local park longer than usual? It may be one of the parks chosen by the City’s recreation and parks department as part of its “no mowing” campaign during late winter and early spring.
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.
This is an annual occurrence to conserve and protect plant species and allow 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, parks, greenbelts and road verges that have been identified as special portions of land that contain important vegetation.
“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,” says the Mayco 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.
allows the flowers to grow undisturbed, so that they survive