Rand Water, in collaboration with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), recently unveiled its new Water Wise demonstration garden at Pretoria National Botanical Gardens.

The garden has been designed to educate the public on water conservation practices that can be implemented in any garden and to encourage the planting of indigenous plants.

“The Water Wise garden is one of a few educational demonstration gardens that we have launched in and around Gauteng since 2011”, says Leslie Hoy, Rand Water Manager for Environmental Management Services.

“The other Water Wise gardens are located at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, the Vereeniging Pumping Station at the Water Wise house and the Delta Environmental Centre in Delta Park”, he continues.

Situated near the entrance of the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens, this garden covers an area of 600 m² and boasts a variety of plants including Portulacaria afra, Carissa macrocarpa ‘Green carpet’ Dietes grandiflora Mackaya bella and some indigenous vegetables including Cucumis metuliferus, Amaranthus greacizans and Solanum retroflexum.

The garden takes visitors on an educational journey, offering invaluable gardening tips on topics ranging from the installation of water saving ponds and fountains; the harvesting of rain water to reduce water run-off; low water usage; vegetable gardens and others. The concepts demonstrated can easily be translated into any size garden whether it is a townhouse garden or a free standing house garden.

 

Creating awareness

This project started in April 2014 and was initiated due to the need to create awareness to end users in the Tshwane area, and as a result of the success of the previous garden established at Water Sisulu National Botanical Garden in March 2011. Going forward, Water Wise would like to secure a partnership with SANBI to establish more such gardens within the Rand Water supply area.

The utility is involved in other Water Wise initiatives, including a vegetable garden launch in Lillydale, Bushbuckridge on 01 September 2014 as well as a display at World Orchid Conference from 10 to 14 September 2014.

Water Wise is Rand Water’s environmental brand that is aimed at increasing awareness of the need to value water and to use it wisely. It has been forging partnerships and developing relationships for a number of years, bringing the Water Wise message to Gauteng and South Africa.