Barrydale Caravan Park and Heritage Garden, is proof not mowing grass can provide some wins for nature.
Corne’ Brink, a Horticulturalist heading up the Project, said “no mow areas” provide a corridor to connect plants, frogs and reptiles.
She was a speaker at a webinar hosted by the Botanical Society’s Cherise Viljoen, last week.
The Barrydale Caravan Park in George, has a communal water-wise garden with indigenous plants.
Brink said there are at least 16 veld types found there, which has secured support from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s “no mow” initiative.
She said the benefits are plenty, including economic and the aesthetic value of the area.
Also in agreement, was Free State Chairperson of the Botanical Society, Dean Potgieter.
He has observed grasslands plants since 1995 and says a few are missing, due to mowing regimes.
The Winter Colchicaceae, or the Pajama flower, is one of a range of flowers that has disappeared from his area of observation in Bloemfontein.
Potgieter said perceptions need to change about grass maintenance in urban areas.
He said urbanites perceive grass to be evil, and also have a “euro-centric view of gardening to keep roses and privets.”
Expert researcher, Dr Peta Brom showed how mowing is necessary, even in “no mow” areas.
Her study spanned across 142 Parks, mostly in Cape Town, in 1 year, from Spring 2018 to 2019.
Alien invasive plants seem to find their way into no mow areas.
Brom said there is a need to monitor invasive grass growth in strategic “no mow areas” and “high mow” above geophytes, to prevent grass flower formation.
There is a need to identify and remove Echium (which is a flower from North Africa, Europe and Central Asia) or spot-treat it with broad-lead herbicide, while biological control is investigated.
Brom said Parks are shared areas, they are havens of biodiversity, in need of protection, but also serve as recreational areas for local communities.
Picture: Dr Peta Brom