Page 14 - Waterfall City Issue 4 April 2025

Waterfall City Sustainability

Trading screen time for
GREEN TIME

T o recognise the and other botanical bullies

threatening the estate’s 80
importance of
wetlands in the
hectares of green space.
natural ecology
of Waterfall City, and to “Everyone knows blackjacks
belatedly celebrate World (Bidens pilosa) and khakibos
Wetlands Day, which was (Tagetes minuta) and whilst
in February, a free guided they can be problematic,
nature walk was held at they are not listed in either
Waterfall Country Village of the four categories in
Estate in early March. the National Environmental
Management: Biodiversity
Led by a team of Act, which essentially
experienced guides from prioritises severity of alien
Kloofendal Nature Reserve, and invasive species. While
namely Karin and Steve we recognise that we have
Spottiswoode and Rico van many areas in which these
Schalkwyk, along with Ruan well-known weeds occur,
Spies, the Environmental it is important to note that
Manager at Waterfall City there are other, much more
Management Company, problematic plants that we
the event was exclusive to want to teach residents to
resident families, and the identify, so that they do not
perfect opportunity to truly take hold in gardens and
unplug. In a world of endless road verges,” explained Ruan.
notifications, constant
scrolling, and screen time For example, Pampas grass
battles, it was time to swap (Cortaderia selloana) is an
blue light for sunlight, ornamental grass species
status updates for in person native to South America and
conversations and virtual is often a popular garden
reality for the real deal! Dr Steve Spottiswoode and Karin Spottiswoode from Kloofendal Nature Reserve choice. However, it is severely
lead the nature walk.
invasive and extremely
The route started in the kid’s play area morphed into an interactive demo on difficult to eradicate in wetlands.
of the estate, where, after a brief intro, the eradication of invasive plant species
the walk began. A group of around 20 – a timely lesson given the recent On a national level, according to a
residents walked for roughly two hours, explosive growth fuelled by heavy rains. 2010 study¹ by De Lange and Van
covering approximately one kilometre Residents learned to spot the shifty Wilgen, invasive alien plants cost South
of green trails. The guided tour quickly morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea), Africa approximately R6.5 billion per

12 Waterfall City Issue 4 2025