Although the Company’s Garden is a South African National Heritage Site, like all things organic, the garden is also a dynamic entity. City Parks, in consultation with landscape architects, has developed a master plan to ensure that the garden will grow and develop into the 21st century while maintaining its historical character. This document, known as ‘The Company’s Garden Design Guideline and Policy Framework’, has thoroughly researched the landscape architecture of the Company’s Garden and made detailed recommendations regarding areas that require improvement, whilst simultaneously setting parameters to conserve its historical integrity. Since the document’s acceptance by Council, City Parks has implemented these recommendations, which also form part of a long term plan for the development of the garden.

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Visitors' map	Aerial view with the Company’s Garden in the lower middle.	A bird’s eye view of the Company’s Garden

1.  Recent developments include :

The renovation of the oldest building in the Company’s Garden, ‘The Bothy’. The word ‘Bothy’ derives from old Scottish and means ‘booth’ - a term referring to workers’ quarters. This old house has had many uses throughout its history, such as gardener’s quarters, Curator's house, seed store and National Library Committee room. Renovations were completed during 2008 and the house has now been restored to its former charm on the basis of old drawings found by the City of Cape Town’s Heritage Department.

‘The Director’s House’ was also renovated during 2008. This Victorian house was formerly the Curator of the Company's Gardens' house and thereafter also the residence of the Cape Town City Parks’ Director. These historical buildings have been renovated to restore their character and are interesting architectural features in the Company’s Garden. There is current discussion taking place with regard to the possible leasing of these premises for a suitable business enterprise that will suit the buildings and character of the Company's Garden.

The renovations to the above two buildings include new paving designed to be historically typical of the Victorian period. Landscaping around these houses will maintain their period character and is currently in progress. The landscape character of the Company’s Garden is that of a ‘Victorian Romantic Garden’ and this theme is borne in mind when designing new plantings. New pathway paving has also been laid around the house to re-connect this section to the ‘sinuous pathway’ that wound through the garden in Victorian times. This type of romantic path was typical of the times.

New wayfinding signage was installed in 2008 – five new interpretive directional entrance signboards were erected at the Adderley Street entrance to Government Avenue; Queen Victoria entrance to Delville Wood memorial area; at the Main Gate opposite Parliament; at the gate opposite ‘Tuynhuis’ in Government Ave and at the Orange Street entrance to Government Avenue. This is the first part of a project to renew all the signage in and around the garden so that visitors can easily find their way around the garden.

‘The Paddocks’ – this oak-wooded open area above the National Art Gallery was originally used as paddocks for various forms of indigenous wildlife including small and large antelope and zebra. There was also a Victorian menagerie. The intersecting pathways have been renewed with ochre coloured brick paving. In keeping with its name, the paddocks area has a rural character and this design principle has influenced the design of the paving, which is as natural as possible. The area has potential for the hosting of functions and events, both of which can be discussed with the management of the Company’s Garden.

In Victorian times, lions were kept in the grounds of what is now Cape Town High School. The gates for the original lions’ enclosure remain as portals on either side of the upper end of Government Avenue. As they were showing signs of structural decay, they were also renovated in 2008.

The paving at the axis of the ‘Delville Wood’ memorial area was also renewed in 2008. The new paving links the two sections of the memorial area and creates a visual flow to the Paddocks.

All of the renovations were completed in collaboration with the City of Cape Town’s Heritage Department and the provincial Western Cape Heritage Department.


2. Proposed projects :

Cape Town has made a number of significant improvements to prepare for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and the Company’s Garden is no exception. As the “green heart of Cape Town,” it will attract many visitors, and proposed projects in 2009 and 2010 take this into account.

The Aviary, located in the centre of the garden near the restaurant, is in need of a facelift and improvement. To effect this, consultations with City architects, landscape architects, heritage professionals and horticultural managers are underway. The aim is to turn the building into a multifunctional resource. The bird enclosure will be retained and improved so that visitors are better able to enjoy South Africa’s indigenous birds; while other parts of the existing aviary may then be turned into a Visitors’ Interactive Education centre with touch screen displays that provide information about the history and natural history of the garden.

Another project is the development of the current Maintenance Yard, which used to house the old glass conservatory building. The garden will be extended into this area and much needed additional public toilet facilities, tourist information offices management and administration offices may also be constructed here.

It is hoped that these projects will be complete by the time visitors arrive en masse for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.


3. Public Participation :

City Parks would like to create the conditions for more public participation in the Company’s Garden by involving them in new projects. The garden is a vital part of Cape Town’s character and the very reason why the city originally developed. It is a National Heritage site and with further funding has the potential to become another World Heritage site, giving Cape Town the unique honour of having three World Heritage sites in one city - Robben Island, Table Mountain and the Company’s Garden.

There are many ways to contribute to the improvement of the Company’s Garden - via assistance with marketing, advertising, construction, electronic hardware and of course, greening initiatives. If you are interested in ensuring that our natural heritage has a sound foundation of conservation, and in making a contribution to the greening of Cape Town, then you may consider making a donation to the Company’s Garden Trust Fund (managed by the Western Cape Heritage Association).

Another way of supporting the Company’s Garden is to donate memorial park benches or drinking fountains. These will bear a plaque with an inscription of your choice.

Corporate Business is invited to participate in greening projects in and around the Company’s Garden. In this era of concerns about global warming and reduction of CO2 emissions, it is a matter of social responsibility to contribute something to the green environment to help offset business’ carbon footprint. There is no better way to show your company’s concern than to contribute to our heritage and environment in one project – the conservation of South Africa’s oldest garden.