Interrogating the potential for incorporating botanical knowledge and values into contemporary City of Tshwane public parks

Abstract

Public parks are an essential type of urban nature as they provide access to nature and its ecosystem services, particularly within marginalised communities that don’t have alternative nearby access. However, parks within the City of Tshwane are in poor condition. Furthermore, the influence of Eurocentric ideologies such as Apartheid and Colonialism remains prevalent through unequal green space distribution, non-native tree species and the lack of acknowledgement of alternative constructs of nature. This is further exacerbated by the lack of academic literature documenting African human-nature relationships and how landscape architects should incorporate them appropriately. This report investigated twenty-one residents’ nature-related stories through semi-structured interviews and observations within three parks of different conditions. The study showcased that people valued natural landscapes and parks, but current parks prioritised social functions rather than ecological ones. Findings indicated an overlap in the value and use of public parks, perceptions of natural landscapes and botanical knowledge. The outcome of the study is the identification of design informants that contribute to more appropriate public park design approaches, informed also through botanical knowledge.