FABIans pitch in to clear invasive woody plants on Mandela Day 2024-07-24
An enthusiastic group of FABIans, along with some BGM representatives, spent 67 minutes clearing invasive Syringa trees (Melia azedarach) and bugweed (Solanum mauritianum) on the Innovation Africa @UP campus in celebration of Mandela Day on 18 May. This weed-clearing effort was, as in 2023, focused on a 2Ha tract of low-lying grassland located adjacent to the Engineering 4.0 building. This is one of the last lowland grasslands in-and-around Pretoria. The group of staff and students used a chainsaw, hand saws and secateurs to cut down the coppicing trees that were then taken away to be chipped. At the end of the 67 minutes a significant area had been cleared but more time will have to be spent to finally rid the grassland of these wood invasives.