.: A Walk in the Park

A walk in our local park, the Green Point Urban Park.

It was such a lovely day last Saturday and we decided to go to our local park for a walk. The park on Green Point common was created after the new Green Point stadium (now called the Cape Town Stadium) was built, in time for the Soccer World Cup in 2010. As vested land, the Green Point Common was granted to the Cape Town City Council in 1923 by the Union Government as Commonage for general public recreation and sports fields. It looked as though the Metropolitan Golf Club was going to get all the land, but our then Councillor JP Smith insisted that some of the land be given to the people for recreation and the 18 hole golf course was reduced to 9 holes.

Wow, we were so impressed. The planting is so superb and, if you haven't been able to see any spring flowers, go now, it is in full bloom. The park was filled with so many happy people from all over the city having fun in the sun. We spotted several childrens' birthday parties and lots of people having lunch with family, some had brought tables and chairs, other just spread blankets on the ground. There are so many different play park areas for the children and a special dog area. Dogs are welcome as long as they are on a lead. We took lots of photographs and so the photos follow our path around the park. There was a feeling of such happiness and euphoria - people are so happy to get out and play. And we don't mean just the children. We think that the adults were almost enjoying it more.

It looks as though they are creating some flower meadows and these daisies abound

Lynne grew up in the area and the Common was her playground, she remembers these very well, growing wild

And in amongst them are some other spring daisies

Happy bees were feeding on them

A small patch of sparaxis had been planted and have irrigation; these are bulbs and will undoubtedly spread

and a yellow variety

A target for bees

Daisies growing in a fairy ring

A rather interesting bush, covered in these furry balls. We have not been able to identify them

People were having a family lunches under the pergolas

Many had brought tables, chairs, tablecloths and lots of food

A perfect day for paragliders who jump off Signal Hill

In the near distance is the restaurant which, sadly, is still closed

and in front is the interesting Anelemmatic sundial. You can stand in the middle and your shadow tells the time

Roller skaters are allowed too, and bikes

The bees love the Sour Fig flowers - Carpobrotus edulis

One of the African daisies, Dimorphotheca Sinuata

There is a whole exercise area with lots of equipment to use. This guy was very fit!

Getting ready for a childrens' party

Black eyed Susan, Thunbergia alata , another indigenous plant

A juvenile Red-winged starling (Onychognathus morio), still with downy feathers

A close up of his head, he was very tame and not at all phased by the camera

One of the many childrens' play areas

Time for a game of footie with Pa

This young man loved the slide and was immediately climbing back up it, with great difficulty, rather than using the stairs

So no big teenagers please. The whole park is Smoke Free; we are very appreciative

There is also a small amphitheatre for concerts - and parties or picnics when there isn't a show

Our ubiquitous Hartlaub's gulls; the park is right next to the beach front

Some young folk having a picnic under the trees

And a special play area for the very young, supervised by an adult

Dad helping with the seesaw

There is a lovely lake and a stream, much enjoyed by these young boys, who were dabbling in the water

Tiny fish fry and a dropped jewel

An interesting stepping stone bridge over the stream

and a fully functioning water wheel in the pond

This coot was building a nest and we could hear chicks from another family in the reeds

A tiny down feather on the surface of the pond

A Hartlaub's gull coming in to land on the water

A child had thrown some bread for the fish and the fry were nibbling, but watching for the diving birds

Lynne sat down to take some photos of the waterlilies and got chatting to this lady, who lives in the local old age home. She told Lynne haw difficult Covid lock down had been for them. They were all confined to their rooms for the first four months and their meals were brought to them. No company, no other human contact. It must have been so lonely. And frightening. Several did get ill and some did die. Even now, they can only eat with one other person at the table. Now that they have more freedom, she comes daily to the park