A piece of Kirstenbosch in Philippi
The Philippi Village has welcomed a little bit of Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden’s biodiversity to its premises as part of the Greenpop Foundation’s urban greening initiative.
Speaking during the launch, Greenpop's co-ordinator Chris Nash said the Philippi Park will bring people together. “It brings people in connection with nature. Some of the plants are endangered but we are here to revive them. We also feel that Philippi Village is a safe haven,” he said.
The purpose of the green zone is to showcase the diversity of plants and to demonstrate responsible gardening practices.
Zoe Gould-Angelucci, Greenpop’s head of programmes, said the continent's biodiversity is unique and irreplaceable, but it is under threat. She said the foundation has planted 230 000 trees on the continent.
She urged people to look after their biodiversity before it is lost forever. “We are inspired by the people we work with. The purpose of the green space is to clear the air and purify the air. This green space would not be possible without the support of the community of Philippi. We thank them for their support” she said.
In welcoming the space, Simphiwe Nikani from the Phillippi Village caretaking department said people had been looking for a green space and now have one.
He said people will have a place to engage and urged the community to care for it for future generations.
Attendees were given the task of planting hundreds of different plants and trees.
The Greenpop Foundation said it has spent the last decade restoring forest ecosystems, bringing nature into urban spaces, and running inspiring and creative campaigns and events to promote environmental stewardship.
