INTRODUCTION
With 2025 being the 21st year of the Upper Liesbeek River Garden, it seemed like a good idea to document what we have achieved since 2004.
This overview is by no means as comprehensive as it could have been, but it does highlight many of the milestones.
It is important not to overlook the routine and very necessary day to day tasks – weeding, pruning, propagating, attending to running repairs, the challengers of the winter floods, maintaining the steps, paths, fences and benches. Obviously, these tasks are not expanded upon in this overview but they do take up a fair bit of the time of the staff.
The Upper Liesbeek River Garden would never have become a reality if it wasn’t for the generosity of the residents of Bishopscourt Village and Fernwood. The support of these residents was the driving force for those of us involved with ‘making it happen’. Without financial support it is impossible to sustain a volunteer-driven dream.
The Rolf and Stephan Nussbaum Foundation gave us a financial contribution in 2007 and have supported us ever since, and we cannot thank them enough for their support, interest and for believing in us.
The financial burden in the more recent years has been made a little easier with the support of two Corporates – Claremont Holdings (VW & Audi Claremont) and the Spirit Foundation. The commitment of these corporates to the upliftment and maintenance of our environment is very commendable and much appreciated.
Another key component of an endeavour such as this is the labour force. Although we have had our fair share of issues, there are three staff members who do need mentioning. Matthews Moetsi, who was with us from 2004-2018, was very loyal. Miranda Alexander (Horticulturist) from 2011-2015 and 2018 to the present, has been invaluable overseeing, mentoring and generally ensuring the ULRG is kept in good shape. Finally, Nephta Phiri, from 2019 up to the present, who is the full time head gardener; he keeps the ULRG maintained day to day and does repairs, propagating, installing tables and more. He is hard working, committed, dedicated to the ULRG and a wonderful member of the river team.
This overview includes a selection of photographs taken over the years. It has been a difficult task to choose from thousands in our collection, but we hope it gives a glimpse into a waste-land evolving into a ‘little bit of paradise.’
Joan Parker
ULRG Coordinator