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FEATURE

whole of the city’s conservation plan. This is
a win /win scenario since the Durban Metro
can only formally manage a fragment of
conservation space (7.14%).
Green open space and biodiverse gardens
provide ecosystem services to the city, silently
and effectively. These include items such
as climate and gas regulation through the
lowering of temperatures and the absorption
of CO2, increased insect pollination, reduction
of soil loss, flood attenuation, the introduction
of habitats for wildlife, the provision of
food security and the inestimable value
of aesthetic, cultural and spiritual benefits
nature and gardening provide to humankind.
Economists have however put a replacement
price tag of R 47.8 billion on the system.

Building better biodiverse gardens
Since most residential gardens are created Indigenous cottage planting, House Watt, Midlands KZN. Design and build by Gary Cox
around building platforms, they initially
contain little or no biodiversity apart from
weed invasions and some hardy pioneer
plants, which is then termed secondary
growth. Only untouched virgin grasslands
and forest ecosystems can truly lay claim to
use the term ‘primary growth’.
The garden then is a totally new creation,
ready to be shaped by its owner’s vision. It can
be any one of the following shades of green:
– an indigenous garden using ONLY endemic
plants from that locality;
– an indigenous garden using plants gathered
from all over Southern Africa;
– a garden with an indigenous bias and
selected traditional and exotic plants;
– a fusion garden with a sensitive blend of
both;
– a garden with a traditional bias of exotic
plants and a few selected indigenous plants.
The exact mechanics of creating flowering
meadows out of unproductive lawns and
converting sterile slopes into wonderlands of
indigenous shrubbery is not discussed here,
but can be seen in the accompanying images
of SALI award winning landscapes. Farmhouse garden, House Marshall, Midlands, KZN. Design and build by Gary Cox

From the power of one to the power the market with affluent estates, and at the of the greater whole. The encouragement
of many: collaborative planting bottom end facing a tremendous greening of gardens with a greater indigenous
At the neighbourhood scale, house holders backlog. The design and management of component needs to be done sensitively and
often form organisations such as residents’ individual residential and estate gardens can greatly assist in protecting South Africa’s
associations or conservancies which harness is important as it impacts the ecosystem great legacy of biodiversity.
the power of the collective to make a
difference in the immediate environment
of their neighbourhood. These community
based organisations (CBO’s) can be viewed About the author
as local ‘stewards’, encouraging gardeners to Dr Jonathan Foley is a practicing landscape designer,
plant biodiverse gardens and remove invasive conservationist and regional SALI judge in KZN. He
alien species in their immediate environment. obtained a doctorate in Biodiversity Communication
These groups are augmented by citizen from UKZN and is a senior lecturer in the Horticulture
science groups such as the Botanical Society Department at Durban University of Technology. He
BotSoc, an offshoot of SANBI, the official encourages young people with potential to enter the
government body charged with protecting landscape industry and is passionate about quality designs
and developing our national flora and fauna. and enriched planting palettes. He can be contacted on
Regional plant fairs, outings and publications jonathan@dut.ac.za
all help to build the community of biodiverse
gardeners. Dr Jonathan Foley
To wrap up
In conclusion, South Africa is facing numerous Ed’s note: References have been omitted for space reasons. Dr Foley may be contacted for these
landscape challenges both at the top end of on the above email address. n

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