Trees planted in Muizenberg Park

Friends of Muizenberg Park planted five young olive trees in the park on Thursday September 12, following the completion of phase one of a restoration project there.

A small group of residents and City officials, including ward councillor Izabel Sherry and park superintendent Patrick Williams, attended the tree-planting ceremony.

Thanks to a donation from a park neighbour earlier this year, phase one of the park restoration project could be completed.

It included the restoration and cleaning of Peck’s Stream and the pond behind the old clubhouse. All non-indigenous plants, except for established trees, were also removed and replaced with wetland fynbos vegetation (“Phase one of Muizenberg Park’s restoration complete,” Echo, May 24).

The City donated the trees, which are frost, drought, and wind-resistant, according to Friends of Muizenberg Park chairperson Nicci Giles.

She said the City had been supportive of the organisation’s endeavours, and the committee had been delighted to receive the offer of the five wild olive trees.

The Friends of Muizenberg Park, she said, was raising funds for the second phase of the project. There would be no change to the course of the stream, and the project would focus on clearing the banks of the existing watercourse and the ponds.

Muizenberg Park is part of the Muizenberg Improvement District (MID), which Ms Giles said had supported the Friends of Muizenberg Park’s efforts.

“The committee is currently collaborating with MID on several park projects.”

Nikiwe Bikitsha, who lives opposite the park, helped to plant a tree and said: "As I also benefit from it, I thought I'd come and join.“

She added that it was also symbolic for her because she was planting roots in Muizenberg again after having lived in Johannesburg for 24 years.

Find the Friends of Muizenberg Park on Facebook or Instagram for more information.