Kouga – Spring is on the horizon, and Kouga Local Municipality is trading lawnmowers for wildflowers.

Instead of the familiar hum of trimming machines, residents will soon be greeted by the colourful dance of blossoms, the hum of bees, the flutter of butterflies and the songs of birds.

It is all part of the municipality’s annual no-mow programme, where nature is given free rein to transform public spaces into vibrant, living habitats.

Pardon the Weeds

From August 2025 to November 2025, mowing at selected parks, public open spaces, greenbelts, and road verges will be temporarily suspended.

Why? To let nature take the lead.

The initiative gives local plants the chance to grow, bloom, and scatter their seeds, creating vibrant natural corridors that not only beautify the region, but also play a vital role in protecting the area’s biodiversity.

Temporary signs reading ‘Pardon the Weeds, We Are Feeding the Bees’, have been placed at participating sites, reminding residents to celebrate these wild corners rather than tidy them away.

The following areas have been identified as part of the campaign:

Jeffreys Bay

• Sections of St Francis Street
• Sections of Da Gama Road (including parks and the open spaces)
• Kabeljauws Park
• Tecoma Park
• Dogwood Park
• Sections of Koraal Street
• Seetuin Road
• Dr AD Keet Road (parks)
• Poplar Park Extension
• Dolphin Drive (entrance to Aston Bay)
• Woodpecker Park

Humansdorp

• Boskloof (open spaces)
• Matt Melville (open spaces)

 St Francis Bay

• Entrance to St Francis Bay
• Lime Road North
• St Francis Drive (alongside the St Francis Bay Golf Club)
• Peter Crescent (open spaces)
• Swan Drive

Cape St Francis

• Da Gama Road
• Seal Point Boulevard

Kouga Executive Mayor, Hattingh Bornman, said the programme was about more than just pausing the mowers.

“The no-mow campaign turns our open spaces into living, breathing habitats,” he said. “By simply letting nature take its course, we give pollinators like bees and butterflies the food and shelter they need – and in return, they help keep Kouga’s environment healthy and resilient.

“This is a small step with a big impact.

“By the end of November, the mowers will return, but until then, these spaces are helping to keep Kouga blooming and buzzing.”

How can residents join in

Residents are encouraged to get involved at home by planting flowers that attract pollinators, allowing flowering grass to grow, or even setting aside a small patch of their gardens as a mini wildflower meadow.

Because when Kouga grows wild, nature – and the community – reap the rewards.