The Gardens form part of Emmarentia and many residents have chosen to live in this suburb in order have easy access to them.

A number of attempts to restrict access to the gardens have taken place over the years. These have included attempts to charge entrance fees, to fence off areas and to close gates to the gardens.

The February 2008 newsletter reported the attempted restriction of access to Emmarentia Gardens by means of a gate closure and erection of a fence. ERA, through Alex Elliot, obtained a court order in December interdicting JCP and the City of Johannesburg Municipality from proceeding with the erection of the fence.

ERA has been joined by EDGE and GRA in opposing the erection of a fence across the gardens. The three bodies will be represented on this matter by residents, Alex Eliott and Steve Kuny, on a date still to be set by the court.

ERA continues to maintain that proper consultation has not taken place regarding the proposed erection of the fence or the closing of the gate on Thomas Bowler or, in fact, the use of the Gardens themselves.

Council's plans for the Gardens

One wonders, what is the motivation for the fence? Apparently, Johannesburg City Parks has developed a Master Plan in order to generate income and to provide the City with a World Class Botanic facility. However, there has been no public consultation regarding this Master Plan.

A new entrance and wedding chapel, as well as a permanent stage to host regular music concerts have been built. Once paid for, these will apparently be used to bring in income for the city.

Use of the Gardens

The gardens are presently mainly used by walkers, joggers, cyclists and birders. Over weekends picnickers, wedding guests and concert goers make use of portions of the gardens. Some recreational users enjoy activities such as volleyball, cricket and kite flying. Canoeists and sailors are daily users of the big dam. In general, most users are recreational and take part in the type of activities common in a park, not a botanic garden.

However, the gardens are also visited by people who go to admire the roses and cherry blossoms or read up on the herbs in the Shakespeare garden. Recently, a beautiful succulent garden was demarcated using many indigenous plants. According to the Johannesburg website, http://www.joburg.gov.za/  visitors can make appointments to view the succulent collection comprising plants from South Africa, Namibia, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, the Canary Islands, Europe, Asia and the Americas. These are housed in six glasshouses which are not open to the public.

Use of the Gardens by dog walkers

Dog walkers are the main users of the southern part of the gardens. In fact, dog walkers, other walkers and cyclists use the southern part of the gardens daily. They access this part of the gardens from Thomas Bowler and Orange roads as well as The Braids parking lot.

Although the southern part of the gardens has some interesting trees, it mainly comprises of mowed grass, natural grassland and reeds next to the two dams. In this area there is also some natural wetland.

History of the Gardens

Louw Geldenhuys employed Boer veterans to build the big dam in 1903 on his farm, Emmarentia which was named after his wife.

The land for the Gardens was set aside in 1969 - at the time it was a sports field and golf driving range.

The question which should define the use of the Gardens is, it it a Botanical garden or a park?

Botanical gardens in South Africa

A botanical garden is a collection of plants which are scientifically ordered and maintained, documented, and labelled for public education, research, and enjoyment.

According to the National Botanical Society, http://www.botanicalsociety.org.za/ there are six Botanical Gardens in South Africa:

• Free State: Rayton Rd, Bloemfontein
• Harold Porter: R44, Betty's Bay
• Karoo Desert: Roux Rd, Worcester
• Kistenbosch: Rhodes Drive, Newlands, Cape Town
• Kwa-Zulu Natal: Mayor's Walk, Pietermaritzburg
• Lowveld: Off White River Rd, Nelspruit
• Pretoria: Cussonia Avenue, Brummeria, Pretoria
• Walter Sisulu: Malcolm Road, Poortview, Roodepoort

The South African National Biodiversity Institute http://www.sanbi.org/ also lists the Hantam National Botanical Garden which was established in 2007 and is located just outside the town of Nieuwoudtville in the Northern Cape, South Africa.

It seems, therefore, that Emmarentia Gardens is not a National Botanical Garden. If that is the case, what is it then?

Security

Muggings are a frequent occurrence in the park. The fence surrounding the park does not deter criminals and the gates to the park are not manned. Park wardens have been appointed but they don't seem able to control the situation. It is generally unsafe to walk in the gardens during the day unless in groups or with several dogs. Safe times for walking are from about 16:00 to sunset when the gardens are frequented by dozens of residents and their dogs. Many residents also walk early in the mornings.

The more people who use the park, the safer it will be.

Suggestions

ERA attempts to work with JCP regarding the Gardens but is not consulted by JCP, even though it represents the residents. Many residents have ideas regarding the use of the Gardens. Some of the ideas that have been suggested over the years include the following:

Work with the community security initiative to help control crime in the gardens.

Check all the signage around the gardens so that it is consistent in what it communicates to users.

Maintain the gardens properly, especially with regard to the:

• Main dam wall
• Southernmost dam wall which has broken
• Invasive alien plants
• Area along Louw Geldenhuys Rd which used to be grassed
• Control of the Egyptian geese
• Sewerage leakage which occurs periodically
• Lighting along the main dam wall
• Broken gabions along the spruit
• Tree pruning
• Wetlands areas
• Parking areas
• Walkways