The Wilds - 100 Years of Wildness!
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Sun Nov 10, 08:00 - Sun Nov 10, 10:30
The Wilds Nature Reserve
ABOUT
‘The Wilds’ in Houghton celebrates its centenary this year and we think that deserves some celebration!
The land was initially owned by the Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Company (JCI) who developed the suburb of Houghton, but 16 Hectares of their holding was donated to the city in 1924 because it was too steep for housing. This became ‘The Wilds’ - one of the most beautiful parks in town (now a provincial nature reserve) and a popular place for picnics and wedding photos.
In the 1990s and 2000s, the Wilds lived up to its name in all the wrong ways and became infamous as a dangerous and overgrown place, best avoided. However, in the last 10 years, volunteers led by artist James Delaney working together with Johannesburg City Parks have achieved a miracle. Pathways were restored, beds were replanted - even the old water features and ponds started flowing again.
Today, The Wilds is once again a magnificent oasis that is safe and accessible; a leafy refuge in the middle of the city. So, join your guides Arj van Zweiten and Prof Kathy Munro - for an unforgettable walk on the Wilds-side!
Rediscover the natural flora, spot the beautiful animal sculptures by James, and celebrate the sterling efforts of all those involved in restoring this magical place that can now be enjoyed by the whole family. And don’t forget to bring along a packed lunch and join us for a picnic after! ? We will meet at The Wilds parking lot by the security desk.
A portion of the proceeds from this tour will be donated to the Friends of the Wilds Foundation for their ongoing work.