With spring still a few weeks away, residents have already begun sharing differing views on whether the Municipality should reintroduce a “no-mow” approach to allow indigenous spring flowers and bulbs to bloom and set seed.

In 2022 and 2023, the Municipality introduced a no-mow approach in selected public open spaces, greenbelts and road verges to protect spring flowers. While welcomed by many nature enthusiasts, the initiative also resulted in numerous complaints from residents about the untidy appearance of overgrown public spaces.

As a result, the Municipality returned to its normal mowing programme during 2024 and 2025 to ensure that parks, road verges and other public open spaces remained well maintained.

This year, the Municipality will continue with its normal mowing schedule. However, the Municipal Manager has instructed the Parks Department to apply discretion where practical and appropriate. Areas with significant displays of indigenous spring flowers may be left uncut during August, September and October, while areas where overgrown grass predominates and spring flowers are scarce will continue to be mown as scheduled.

For example, in the Hangklip-Kleinmond area, the Friends of the Kogelberg Biosphere, in collaboration with the Parks Department, identified a handful of parks with significant spring flower displays last year. These areas will once again be marked with “Mowing Temporarily Paused for Spring Flowers” signs, allowing indigenous flowers the opportunity to bloom, be pollinated and set seed before mowing resumes.

This is not a formal municipal “no-mow” policy, but rather a practical, site-specific approach implemented at the discretion of the Parks Department.