Dear residents of Observatory and other users of the Liesbeek River greenbelt in Observatory, Friends of the Liesbeek (FoL) is excited to announce the commencement of our longstanding “Fynbos Snake” project. Please refer to the image on the next page for the site plan and images. This project is happening in partnership with the City…
Conviction reveals criminal syndicates’ shifting focus in illegal plant trade
Clivia mirabilis in its natural habitat. The species is endemic to a small area in the Northern and Western Cape. (Photo: WWF / Andre Swart) Kristin Engel – 8 Jul 2025 The conviction of four people in the Northern Cape for the illegal poaching of the miracle bush lily reveals that criminal syndicates are targeting…
Civic Assemblies in Action: Lessons on Civic Engagement from Fort Collins
Fort Collins (from Wikimedia) From New America: In New America’s work on collaborative governance and civic trust, two themes consistently emerge: start with local experience, and listen to local stories to inspire broader leadership. At its core, co-governance connects the lived experiences of residents with those who hold decision-making power, enhancing civic agency… SEE MORE
Cape Town’s sewage treatment isn’t coping: scientists are worried about what the city is telling the public
An aerial view of Cape Town city. GettyImages Urban water bodies – rivers, lakes and oceans – are in trouble globally. Large sewage volumes damage the open environment, and new chemicals and pharmaceutical compounds don’t break down on their own. When they are released into the open environment, they build up in living tissues all…
City urges residents to help tackle invasive ground cover
The City’s Recreation and Parks Department is calling on residents across the metro to assist in the control and containment of Hedera spp (specifically Hedera canariensis and Hedera helix), commonly known as English Ivy or Ivy – a creeping and climbing invasive plant that poses a serious threat to the local environment.
Little Sprouts Winter Holiday Programme
This winter, the City of Cape Town is calling on Capetonians to help us control the spread of English Ivy
This creeping invader is threatening our trees, parks and biodiversity. As beautiful as Ivy might look, it’s a serious problem. If left to grow unchecked, it can: 🌳 Smother trees 🌳 Block sunlight, and 🌳 Cause them to collapse. It also outcompetes our local plants, damaging the natural balance of our green spaces. The City…
Starke Ayres – What to do in July
Earthworm farms will welcome some attention. Gently place the contents in a heap on a piece of black plastic and slowly gather the compost around the edges. The worms will move away from the light and will eventually congregate in the very centre and can be scooped up and replaced in the worm bin with…
Veg Garden: Do Spring Planning Right
To plan a great food growing season, you need to plan your garden. Know what your goals are. Understand how to achieve those goals. Plan to handle problems. All of these steps are crucial if you want to have a productive food garden. This video will cover multiple aspects of planning and starting your successful…
Growing from Seed, the basics.
Sean covers the basics of growing food from seed. Planting from seed has rules, and we teach you these simple rules to ensure success. Planting from seed is the cheapest way to get cheap, nutritious organic food. If done correctly you will be very successful, We show you how and give you options.