Page 21 - Landscape-Issue139

Gwahumbe Nursery is a proud PROJECT
supplier to The Wetland at Clairwood
Logistics Park, Durban. For this project,
Simon Clements Garden & Design
Studio received a SALI trophy for Best
Environmental Landscape Work

Keith Bales 082 678 1329

gwahumbe@gwahumbenursery.co.za
NURSERY OFFICE:
076 019 2460 • 033 940 0030

Eulophia speciosa Acokanthera oblongifolia

Setaria sp KZN river crab

pond’ as part of a larger, more complex, Indigenous trees and plants were carefully is accompanied by educational signage
functional and constructed wetland system. selected for their suitability in this part of boards and a visitor’s deck, which looks out
This constructed wetland now forms part Durban. The protected ‘Race Course Lily’ onto the wetland.
of the wider bio-retention stormwater was re-introduced after being grown in
attenuation system that was created as the on-site nursery, and has flowered and Environmental audits
an additional wetland corridor over two seeded in its new habitat. Since the start Recent environmental audits have shown
hectares in size. of the project, over 1500 trees have been that the constructed wetland has been
The environmental water management planted. viable, with the identification of new
system has proved highly effective at The project area included approximately reptile, mammal and amphibian species
mitigating the effects of extreme weather 5.5 ha of grassland/wetland translocation not previously noted at the old site. An avi-
events and Clairwood Logistics Park was and rehabilitation, 2 ha of forest and 1.7 ha faunal audit confirmed good bird activity
one of the only properties in the South of reeded swales. in and around the wetland, including a
Durban Basin that did not experience An important part of the project is the pair of grey Crowned Cranes which have
damage during the 2017 and 2022 floods. control and removal of alien invasive plants successfully bred and raised chicks on the
Features such as weirs, overflow and (IAPs) from the Clairwood wetland. The site for the past few years.
outflow structures were designed and plan includes regular inspections, marking
constructed by specialist engineers. of IAPs and monthly clearance operations SALI Awards
to ensure the restoration and preservation Simon Clements: Garden & Landscape
Flora, fauna and education of the wetland’s endemic plants and Design received the trophy for Best
An important part of the translocation and ecosystem. Environmental Landscape Work for
rehabilitation project was the growing out An aspect of the project included the this project in the 2024 SALI Awards of
of rare and endangered plants. These have design and construction of a bird hide on Excellence. In addition, they received a gold
been re-introduced into the ecosystem the edge of the wetland for educational award in the category of Environmental
to bolster the existing plant populations. purposes and outreach at local schools. This Conservation Work. n

Check us out www.salandscape.co.za Landscape SA • Issue 139 2024 19