Page 17 - Landscape SA 99

PROFILE FEATURE

We’ve been privileged to receive the
SALI Shield of Excellence three times
since joining the organisation; the Fossil
Park, Big Bay Blaauwberg and Hout Bay
Dune Management projects are all very
diverse, but have long-term time lines and
sustainability in common.
Q: What advice would you give to young
people wanting to enter the landscaping/
green industry?
A: Always ask why and how, and remain
curious! Accepting the status quo will kill
your spirit and stifle your creativity.
Q: How do you see the future of the
profession? Will Covid change the way
things are done going forward, or has
this happened already?

A: Pretty gardens have been with us for
centuries and provide inspiration and joy, N7 Interchange
but resources will require better allocation
going forward. We are in the midst of a
knowledge explosion and most will be left
lagging behind. We are quite literally living the economy, there will always be a need Q: Your closing comment?
in the age of adapt or die. for problem solvers.
A: By restoring functionality to nature in
Covid is just another learning curve and it Our biggest problem however is public open spaces, the resulting habitat
has already made us more efficient, doing environmental destruction. We can’t all becomes resilient and in turn supports
away with pointless meetings. The biggest get onto a Starship and fly to Mars, so we special and rare species. We need to train
challenge is for all people on the ground to must preserve what we can, curtail our the next generation and change their
increase their powers of observation and impact and fix what is broken. perception of beauty. Ecology is the new
communication. Regardless of the state of sexy! LSA

Vissershok landfill site rehabilitation

Landscape SA • Issue 99 2021 15