Page 25 - Landscape-Issue124

PROJECT

PAPENBOOM MEADOW PROJECT

Landscape architect Clare Burgess began working on this volunteer upgrade project in
2010. It was driven as a public/private partnership by the local community of Newlands,
Cape Town, to address safety and security issues in the area. The management and
horticultural maintenance of this public open space had been sadly neglected by the
City of Cape Town (CoCT), resulting in the area becoming unsafe.

he site is one of many underground
springs that occur all around the base
Tof Table Mountain, and has been used
by Capetonians for centuries. However, in
the wet winter months, local residents could
no longer walk through it safely despite it
being on a direct route from the suburbs to
the Newlands Forest area of Table Mountain
National Park. This was mainly due to the
overgrown vegetation and natural seep
which creates boggy ground in the Cape’s
winter rainfall season. There was also a
lack of any formalised paths. Neglected
areas often attract anti-social behaviour
and can be a haven for the homeless. The
surrounding residential property owners
had mainly turned their backs on this space
so there was a lack of surveillance from local
home owners.
At that time, the Newlands Residents
Association (NRA) had adopted an
assertive policy to address homelessness
in their neighbourhood. The intention
was to fight crime by raising awareness
of the issues and involving residents, Albino squirrel in the meadow, April 2016
businesses and schools in the programme.
They adopted the ‘broken window’ (*)
approach to fixing up issues of concern
in their area, for example, when tagging
occurred on buildings or trees, they
immediately removed the signs of this
anti-social behaviour. When litter was
strewn around the streets or parks, they
immediately organised to clean it up.
When homeless people set up camps or
sleeping spots, they were immediately
asked to move and if they resisted, SAPS
or the city’s law enforcement was brought The maintenance team a few years ago Egyptian geese love the stream in the meadow
in with increasing foot patrols. Local
residents were encouraged to report which had been diverted by a former SAB need for more than just the planning and
incidents immediately. brewery and no longer flowed as a stream implementation of projects; it addressed
It is interesting to note that at the through the area. By showcasing the ongoing management and maintenance
March 2023 NRA AGM the chairman, beauty of water flowing in a natural setting, issues.
March Turnbull, quoted the figures for one can build peoples’ appreciation for this
homeless people living on the streets valuable asset. This is one of the principles Action
of Newlands and it has increased from of water-sensitive design and ties in with Any successful, living landscape needs
approximately 40 to 400 over the last five the idea of encouraging active use of the continuous monitoring, management,
years. This issue is therefore becoming an area by all age groups and increasing foot maintenance and adaptation over time
increasingly challenging one and can only traffic through it. and this is what the renamed Papenboom
be solved by everyone working together. As a resident of Newlands and a Meadow achieved through a regenerative
professional landscape architect, Clare process.
Design philosophy Burgess accepted the challenge and Burgess says it is necessary to first
This involved changing a derelict, became involved. Her participation in VISION it – this is where community
overgrown area into a vibrant community the City of Cape Town’s 2014 #Cocreate partnerships with the City (who are the
space and the NRA chose to use an existing Design initiative, and landscape work with landowners) come into play. Everyone
resource – the Kommetjie Spring water – resilient design, focused attention on the needs to be involved. The next step is

Landscape SA • Issue 124 2023 23