Observatory wetland restoration project

Description

In 2023, the Friends of the Liesbeek (FoL) undertook a strategic project in Observatory. a degraded wetland, alongside the Liesbeek River in Observatory, was scraped of invasive Kikuyu Grass. A small channel was excavated; linking the wetland to the Liesbeek River (previously separated by an elevated, artificial berm). The channel allows water to flow from the river into the wetland during periods of high flow/flooding.

The scraped patch was then planted out with over 50 species of locally indigenous wetland fynbos species; including a few red list Erica margaritacea and Diastella proteoides. Other introduced species included: Athanasia trifurcata, Cliffortia feruginea, Cliffortia strobilifera, Ehrarta villosa, Elegia tectorum, Ficinia capitella, Freylinia lanceolata, Helichrysum cymosum, Helichrysum pandurifolium, Imperata cylindrica, Isolepsis prolifera, Juncus effusus, Juncus lomatophyllus, Lobelia anceps, Melianthus major, Mentha longifolia capensis, Passerina corymbosa, Pelargonium grossularioides, Serruria aemula var. foeniculaceae, Ursinia sp., Haemanthus sp. (coccineus), Orphium frutescens, Anthospermum aethiopicum, Carex clavata, Carpobrotus edulis, Cliffortia ericifolia, Cliffortia hirta, Felicia aethiopica, Ficinia nodosa, Helichrysum patulum, Juncus capensis, Lampranthus reptans, Lampranthus stenus, Leonotis leonurus, Monopsis lutea, Nidorella foetida, Pelargonium capitatum, Pelargonium cucculatus tabulare, Plecostachys serpyllifolia, Psoralea glaucina, Psoralea pinnata, Senecio halimifolius, Kniphofia uvaria, Chasmanthe floribunda, Zantedeschia aethiopica.

Plants were primarily sourced from Fynbos Life nursery and from the City of Cape Town's nursery.