NLC Programme   |   Biodiversity Gardens   |   Thornton

#GROW

Creating a meaningful space where nature and wellbeing come together

The SOS Children’s Village, located in Thornton, Cape Town, is a safe space for children and youth, where they can holistically grow and thrive. Now with the establishment of the biodiversity conservation garden, young residents can connect with indigenous plants and biodiversity.

Developed as part of BOT SOC’s Protecting and Restoring South Africa’s Natural Heritage project, this biodiversity garden supports environmental education, youth development and biodiversity conservation.
The garden builds on an existing partnership between BOT SOC and the SOS Children’s Village, creating a meaningful space where nature and wellbeing come together.

Youth skills development and conservation training

Twelve youth participants from the Cape Metropole were trained as part of this project, hosted by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, these youths were upskilled through classroom, theoretical learning and hands-on conservation training.

Beyond their work at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, the youth contributed to citizen science plant monitoring activities through the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) Programme, capturing species observations on iNaturalist.

Their skills were applied during the development of the SOS Children’s Village Biodiversity Conservation Garden, where they assisted with planning, preparation and planting.

The themed planting areas include:

• Cape Flats Sand Fynbos bed that use remarkable survival strategies
• Cape Flats Dune Strandveld bed featuring species that thrive on lime-rich, marine-derived sands and shell fragments
• Medicinal plant bed with species traditionally used for healing

Interpretive signage explains plant ecology, pollinators and conservation importance.

Interpretive signage explains:

– Indigenous plants
– Pollinators
– Cape Flats ecology
– Threatened habitats

Plant labels also include:

– Scientific and common names

– Plant characteristics

– Cultural value

– QR codes linking to SANBI’s PlantZAfrica website

Interpretive signage was developed by BOT SOC and designed by Jeanette Erasmus.