Parkscape

26/01/2026

Kicking off 2026 with safety in mind!

The first Parkscape community of 2026 will take place this coming Saturday, 31 January, in partnership with Pro-Sec Technologies and other friends and partners!

We'll also be welcoming the new Safety and Security Manager for SANParks - Table Mountain National Park to our patrol, and look forward to introducing Hein Aylward to our community partners.

We'll meet at the Ribbon Gate at 08.45 for a 09.00 start and would love to have you join us! Bring along your children - well-behaved dogs are also welcome! (Be sure to have a leash and activity permit for your pooch.)
The patrol will last just over an hour and will cover much of Lower Tokai.

We look forward to seeing you there and being part of the safety solutions in the national park.
All details are in the poster below.

We also look forward to seeing our friends and community partners for the first community safety patrol of 2026!

SANParks - Table Mountain National Park
Kirstenhof Community Police Forum
SAPS and Reservists
City of Cape Town Law Enforcement and Metro Equestrian Unit
Tokai Neighbourhood Crime Watch
KCW - Kirstenhof Crime Watch
Village Neighbourhood Watch
- Lakeside Community Watch
Westlake Neighbourhood Watch
Constantia Watch
Constantia Hills RA and Community Watch
K9 Trailing
SANParks Honorary Rangers
Tokai District Riding Association
Ward 71 News
Table Mountain Watch
Women of Westlake Village Child Protection Organization

25/01/2026

Some of you may remember the beautiful flowers - gifted to the forest and to the community - that used to appear in until about year and a half ago.
We always loved coming across the flower gifts although the giver remained unknown to us for a long time.
This past week we learned that "the lady who gifts the flowers" is seriously ill.
We therefore, as Parkscape and representing the - a very special family of people - extend every healing wish and all love and light to this precious and generous soul. Her gifts and creativity brought so much joy to so many.
C, our thoughts are with you, we hold you in our hearts and prayers. Be well soon 🍀🌲🌳💝💝💝🌳🌲🍀

25/01/2026

As you will recall, yesterday afternoon saw a in the fynbos of middle Tokai (west of Orpen Road), the cause of which we don't know.

Residents in surrounding areas were rightly concerned given fynbos burns very hot and very fast. Thanks, however, to quick action by fire and emergency services the blaze was contained without risk to human life or property. (We don't know to what extent wildlife was impacted.)

For residents living within or next to areas of fynbos, fire is a reality, given fynbos vegetation is fire adapted and fire dependent - it needs to burn and it will burn to survive. Moreover, older fynbos vegetation burns faster and easier, and has a high fuel load that results in much more intense fires. When we add to this mix our increasingly densifying urban environment - with a multitude of urban dynamics at play, including increased risk of human ignitions - along with what appears to be a global trend towards an increase in wildfires (thought to be due to climate change) then wildfire becomes a grim reality. If wildland/fynbos landscapes in our urban biome are not managed properly, considerable risk is posed to life and property.

The attached article from the Daily Maverick, which interviews two highly regarded fynbos ecologists, explains the challenges of conserving our precious fynbos - it also references the challenges of doing so in an increasingly densifying urban environment. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-06-30-fynbos-why-fire-is-important-for-its-survival/

As a fynbos ecologist said to us recently, "With fynbos there is always risk. People need to be aware of this."



📷 Thanks to Anton Van Der Merwe

24/01/2026

Our sincere thanks to SANParks - Table Mountain National Park and it's Fire Chief for a swift response to this afternoon's fire in middle Tokai.

Sincere thanks too to NCC Wildfires, Volunteer Wildfire Services and City of Cape Town Fire Services.

High risk situations like these that put the urban edge and infrastructure (lives and property) at risk require coordinated collaboration and speedy action. This is exactly what we saw today.

We are, as always, so grateful for the work that our various fire crews do - whether in Tokai or anywhere else in Table Mountain National Park.



📷 Ward 71 News

24/01/2026

🔥 🔥

17.31

The fire is contained. Crews will now begin to mop up, while keeping a close watch for hotspots and flare ups.

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16.24
TMNP Fire Chief advises fire is close to containment.
SANParks is liaising with SPCA to attend to any affected or injured wildlife.

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16.04.
Orpen Road has been closed - please avoid the area.
One chopper is on site waterbombing.
NCC Wildfires, City of Cape Town and Volunteer Wildfire Services are also on site, supported by SANParks.

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Please be aware of a wildfire start on the western side of Orpen Road, Tokai.
Services and SANParks have been alerted and services are en route.

Please give crews space to do their work and please do not be a fire spectator.
Please do not speculate on the cause of the fire as it serves no purpose. Fire investigators will be involved in determining the fire start and will submit a report to SANParks.



NCC Wildfires
SANParks - Table Mountain National Park
Wildfires

24/01/2026

There are so many places in the forest to rest your weary legs after a hard week at the office. It is also a place to relax and observe all the beauty around you, or even plan your next vacation to exotic places. So come and have a seat made of natural materials and relax, think and meditate.

24/01/2026

Please help us identify ringbarked non-invasive exotic, indigenous and mature heritage trees in Table Mountain National Park.

The ringbarking of indigenous, non-invasive exotic and mature heritage trees within Table Mountain National Park appears to be park-wide and not just limited to certain areas, like Newlands and Cecilia.

Following on our previous post (22 January) about the ringbarking of trees, we've had several people approach us to express concern about ringbarking in various areas of the Park.

While there is no argument that uncontrolled invasive species must be managed by removal (and we do mean complete removal that does not involve the buildup of fuel load in the park), it is a very different matter, in what is an urban national park, intended as much for heritage and community enjoyment and sanctuary - as for biodiversity - to drive an agenda that believes the Park, because it's a national park, should contain only endemic trees and then only in the deep ravines. The impact of such an approach on our city will be profound - think, increased temperatures and increased flooding, never mind the loss of recreational shade space so needed by Cape Town's residents.

We therefore appeal to you: should you see ringbarked trees in the park - indigenous (for example, mountain cedars, Outeniqua yellowwoods, ficus, pink keurboom) or non invasive exotics (like stone pines, cork oaks, water oaks) or mature heritage trees - individual trees and stands of trees - that are part the cultural landscape (including English oaks, pin oaks, pines and gums) to please take photos of the trees and send them to us via Facebook Messenger with a GPS location.
Should you see people ringbarking such trees, and if you feel you're able, please also take photos of the ringbarking and send them to us.

23/01/2026

It was a beautiful morning in Lower Tokai.

23/01/2026

EVERY tree matters. And in cities all trees matter given the critical benefits they provide to people and the urban environment.

Goodbye, Indigenious bias? The Radical New Science of Choosing City Trees for a Hotter World 🌳🏙️

The leafy canopy of a city street offers more than just shade; it is a vital buffer against noise, a source of clean air, and a quiet connection to nature. Yet, a silent threat is putting our urban forests at risk. Scientists call it "climate velocity"—the rapid shifting of environmental conditions. In Mediterranean zones, this means our familiar oaks and planes are on a countdown to extinction, unable to outrun a climate that is leaving them behind.

To save our green canopies, arborists are testing radical strategies that challenge the long-held dogma of "indigenous" planting. Here are the new rules for future-proofing our cities:

1. Forget "Indigenous," Think "Assisted Migration" 🌍 The most significant shift is moving away from strict indigenous planting. To ensure a tree can survive a city's future, planners are now sourcing genetic stock from regions that already experience the hotter, drier climate predicted for coming decades. We must import trees from warmer locations today to ensure survival tomorrow.

2. The Power of Provenance 🧬 Even when planting natives, the specific origin—or "provenance"—is critical. In Perth, native Jarrah trees (Eucalyptus marginata) are suffering dieback. However, seeds collected from the species' hotter, northern margins are thriving. The solution often lies dormant within the species' own genetic "address book."

3. Barcelona's "15-20-30" Rule 📊 To avoid catastrophic loss from a single pest or climate stressor, Barcelona has instituted a strict diversity formula. The city's tree inventory must contain: • No more than 15% of any one species, • No more than 20% of any one genus, and • No more than 30% of any one family. This acts as an insurance policy, diversifying the genetic portfolio against future shocks.

4. Resilience Beats Pedigree 🔥 Resilience is appearing in unexpected places. The Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius), a rainforest species, has proven surprisingly tough in drought trials by dropping its leaves to conserve water. The lesson? A tree’s performance under stress matters more than its ecological classification.

5. Meet the "Future Trees" 🌿 New recruits are already arriving. California is embracing the Escarpment Live Oak (Quercus fusiformis) for its resistance to root pathogens in compacted soils, while Barcelona is planting the North African Sandarac (Tetraclinis articulata) to replace failing conifers.

Conclusion Creating the urban forest of tomorrow requires a radical shift in thinking. By embracing genetic diversity, looking to warmer climates for "assisted migration," and paying close attention to provenance, we can cultivate trees resilient enough to thrive in the challenging decades ahead.

The next time you walk down a tree-lined street, look up and ask: are these trees relics of a bygone climate, or are they the tough pioneers of the future?

23/01/2026

The Parkscape has several artists in the "family" - and a few have requested permission to use our photos as a basis for some of their art.

We're delighted to share two examples below - they show how much the forest means to so many people.

The first two paintings are by Linda Gotlieb. The painting of the Tokai horseriders will be on exhibition at the Richard Crowie Hall at Kirstenbosch Gardens as of today, so do go along if you're interested.

The third painting is by Avril Retief who hopes to do a series of paintings entitled "Not just a forest" with 30% of all sales going to Kunye Art Foundation, which helps young and upcoming artists.
The painting below by Avril was bought by a friend in London for her daughter who's missing Cape Town.

To see more of these artists' work please take a look at their social media pages:

https://www.facebook.com/artbylindagotlieb and
http://www.Instagram.com/lindagotliebart

https://www.instagram.com/avrilretief

22/01/2026

Below is a very interesting article posted by Sabrina Hart-Hort, a horticulturalist, on the topic of bark (tree bark, not dog bark!).

Trees creating a barkosphere.

We all know that trees are crucial for the health of our planet and ourselves, as they absorb carbon dioxide from the air and release life-giving oxygen. However, recent scientific research has revealed the fascinating world of bark.

It has been discovered that the bark of trees contains billions of tiny organisms that help purify the air and remove greenhouse gases. These microbes ‘eat’ hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, and other gases for their energy and survival. The active microbial communities found in tree bark significantly influence atmospheric gases.

Southern Cross and Monash universities collaborated over the last five years to study the bark on eight Australian tree species from woodlands and wetlands. They discovered that the bark on the selected tree species was absolutely teeming with microscopic life, with one square metre of bark containing over 6 trillion microbial cells.

To investigate the activities of these bark microbes scientists used a technique called metagenomic sequencing. This method allowed them to read the DNA of every microorganism in a sample simultaneously.

These microbes were eating gases including methane that is responsible for about one third of global warming gases. The big standout in the study found that in all species the bark, including wetland species of trees, the microbes consistently removed hydrogen from the air.

The study group also found abundant microbial enzymes that removed carbon monoxide, suggesting that tree bark helps clean the air we breathe. This could be a game-changer for urban areas that have poor air quality if urban forests are developed alongside cities.

It is estimated that there are around 3 trillion trees on the planet and scientists have calculated that tree microbes could remove up to 55 million tonnes of hydrogen from the atmosphere annually. When you consider the cumulative surface area of bark on trees, its far greater than all the land surface of earth.

Trees have long been a major influence on climate and are vital for biodiversity. Recent research clearly shows that trees provide many more benefits that we are only beginning to understand.

Increase the capacity of your own neighbourhood in cleaning up the air by planting more trees and saving the ones we have from destruction.

22/01/2026

Since September last year we have received increased complaints and concerns from users about the ringbarking of cork oaks (Quercus suber), mountain cedars (widdringtonia nodiflora), water oaks (Quercus nigra),Outeniqua yellowwoods (Afrocarpus falcatus) and a redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) in the Newlands Forest area of Table Mountain National Park.

In addition to taking these concerns to both park management and SANParks' Honorary Rangers - who have been involved with the ringbarking - we have, along with multiple other concerns, escalated this matter, given the lack of reasonable responses from TMNP under whose authority we've been told the work is being done.

We note that other organisations, such as TreeKeepers-Cape Town, have also expressed anger and dismay at the destruction, and that local councillors have lodged their own complaints, with one saying that the destruction was "disgraceful".

From what we're able to ascertain, there is a clear drive by invasion biologists and fynbos conservationists to destroy all trees that are not endemic to the area - be they indigenous or non-invasive exotics. This wilful destruction, particularly in the heavily-used wildland urban interfaces (or internal buffer zones) of the park, is so far out of line with our urban national park's founding intent as to be staggering. It also has an impact on Cape Town's struggling urban forest and thus the well-being of the city and its residents.

It goes without saying that this destruction within the forest (which is further aggravated by barkstripping) also adds to the fuel load in the area, increasing the fire risk, which in turn raises questions about those conservationists who have been calling for fire in Newlands in a bid to limit the size of the forest in favour of increased fynbos conservation.

We will continue to engage with senior SANParks management in order to gain answers and clarity.