Delta Park is actually in Victory Park, although the Blairgowrie residents do most of the work through their residents assoc. Anyone in VP want to get involved? Delta Park Newsletter October 2014 (click here for the link to see all the photos) Hi Everyone, What a strange spring we have had weather- wise. In the space of a couple weeks we had a freezing weekend followed by really hot weather, the BIG hailstorm and another smaller hailstorm. The Park didn’t suffer any real damage but like all the suburbs, the trees were shredded and the spring flowers smashed. At least now it seems to have settled down and we can look forward to the rains. At least the trees are in a spring mood, unfurling their bright green leaves and the new flowers scenting the dry air. At the Florence Bloom dam we have removed a small island of reeds that was blocking the overflow. It had a lot of baby hyacinth in it and we didn’t want that to go over the wall and into the river - one day’s work got it all sorted out. Also at the same dam, the strong wind dislodged a huge island of reed and papyrus which is floating towards the western bank; I wonder if it will stay there. Regarding the removal of alien and invasive vegetation in the park: Since the Park was burnt we haven’t been able to do much but I have had two groups of boys - one group from St Stithians doing their community hours, the other from St David’s Marist Inanda doing their Presidents Award hours and they managed to remove a lot of the sapling black wattle in the forest below the school and at the top of the embankment. Once we have rain I am sure some more verbena will pop up and Geoff Lockwood has asked if the invasive Pom-Pom can also be taken out – so there will be plenty of work to do. A few kind gentlemen have been helping in the park. One has cut more black wattle trees from the top of the embankment, another has been cutting the bug weed in the area behind the houses and dragged them to the scout area and yet another bought a “plant popper” to pull out saplings. Now I am waiting for City Parks to come and collect all the heaps of trees. A big thank you guys, your help is much appreciated. Last month, three metal storm drain covers were stolen from the Spruit area. The thought of a dog or child falling down and being swept way was horrific. Elizabeth noticed a wall being rebuilt in Bantam drive so we asked the owner if he wanted the old precast walling pieces. He was pleased to get rid of it so with the help of the car guards the open holes are now covered with very heavy walling—and no one will want to steal those. Another metal covering has been stolen from a drain behind the playground close to the “rustic bridge. We have put logs over it but really need three pieces of precast walling to close it safely. Anyone got some lying around? . I am sure you have all seen the super wooden bridge that James Goodhead made over the river below the dams, to earn his Springbok Scout Badge. It is being well used by the walkers to avoid the busy corner and even the dogs trot over it comfortably. Thank you James for all your hard work! The arum lilies in the river between the dams have flowered profusely this year and make a lovely splash of colour to admire in winter; it is amazing how the white stands out. Onto news of the birds: Geoff had had regular sightings of the Ovambo, Black and Little Sparrowhawks. He has also seen a single arrow marked babbler - only the third one that has been sighted in the Park and for a first -- the Brown Throated Martins have breed down by the Spruit On August 28th we were walking past the Enviroment Center when without warning the male owl “bombed” us. Having recovered with nervous laughs we presumed the owl chicks had hatched and “daddy “was in protection mode. Yes, there are now three chicks out on display. The following day – that freezing cold Friday, we were walking down by the Spruit and saw dozens of White Throated Swallows darting up and down the river. They must have wondered if they had got the correct season for their summer holiday and it was ironic that the saying “a swallow does not a summer make” there was certainly no sign of summer that day. I have heard the Greater Honeyguide calling “Victor, Victor” quite a few times and wondered where the bee hive is that it would like us to break open for him. The last unusual sighting which is becoming more regular is of grey hornbills; both Geoff and I have heard and seen them. . Here is another short aerial video of the park in winter around the Florence Bloom Dam. : https://youtube/watch?v=roc0LYNiKAA Why am I always asking everyone to pick up their dog poos? Well apart from the aesthetic and hygienic and medical issues, it is also about money. Very kind people donate money for work in the park and now I have to pay the car guards to clean up all the poo and that is R180 twice month! The Enviroment Center has also complained that when the children come to the center to learn about their enviroment they are stepping in dog poo -- so now I am paying a man to clean that area every week, picking up poos. This is costing money that should be used for other things, so please everyone, if you see someone ignoring their dog’s poos, give them a bag and ask them politely to pick it up- and explain why. There are poo bags all over. Spirocerca Lupi is on the increase and dogs that are being infected with the worm, are dying -- that is an even better reason to keep the park free of dog poos! Two articles where dogs have died are in both Cesar Way and the Guide Dogs magazine. Imagine losing your precious guide dog because someone else didn’t pick up their dog poos! All it takes to solve this problem is for everyone to pick up after their dogs If anyone has another solution to this problem, I would appreciate their ideas. One afternoon as we were walking next to the top dam, I was amazed to see two small dogs running up and along the boughs of the big fallen tree. They confidently trotted up and even at the top of the boughs where they had to stop to maneuver between the branches there was hardly a break in their athletic feat. See a clip of the Tree Walk, click here to go to the You Tube Clip BCA (Blairgowrie Residents Association) has kindly donated the six two –seater park benches you may have seen dotted around the park. There are two at the top dam, one on the wall at bottom dam and another under the trees in the middle of the field going down towards the Enviroment Center. The last two are in the playground field. They have all been cemented in so they can’t be moved. Thank you BCA, it will make a difference to the people who need a rest while walking around the park and for folk who just want to enjoy a quiet time looking at the dams and park. There are a group of people who kindly donate money regularly and a lot more who did a once-off donation and I am extremely grateful for their generosity but our funds are getting a bit low again and with all the removal of invasive weeds coming up soon, I would appreciate it if you could put a few pennies in the pot. Last time when I asked if Delta Park was worth R50 a month to you, I got a wonderful response, and with that money we were able to employ two or three unemployed men at a time to clear three fields of verbena. More plants will grow again and I would like to get then out before they flower thus preventing any more re-seeding. As a reminder the account is with ABSA A/C HYACINTH. No 9173629924 ACCESS No 632005. Please put your name as reference so I can thank you. Elizabeth has successfully got the irrigation system going in the area by the Emmerentia Road gate beyond the staff house and it has been approved by City Parks There are beautiful, large Camellias bushes which haven’t flowered for years and now with a little water are in full bloom. She is a keen gardener who wants to make that area her special project. Many, many thanks to Peter Hammond for always being willing to come and help with whatever project is on the go; it is so nice to have someone who is as passionate about the park as I am. Enjoy our little gem where we can recharge our batteries, exercise our legs and relax out minds. Shirley
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 12:08:05 +0000
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