Parkscape

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Parkscape is a voluntary non-profit organisation with a mixed community-safety - environmental focus.

Voluntary advocacy NPO, ensuring safety, and protecting the urban forest, cultural landscapes and biodiversity in the buffer zones and wildland-urban interfaces of TMNP. Our vision is driven by the increasing incidence of crime and fire in the ever-reducing buffer zones of Table Mountain National Park, which pose a serious threat to the urban edge. The devastating fires of March 2015 (which destroyed several homes), and the Devil's Peak fire of 2021 (which caused extensive heritage damage) along with numerous smaller fires and several brutal murders, including the rape and murder of a 16 year old girl in the fynbos of Lower Tokai in 2016, together with numerous ongoing incidents of crime, highlight a critical issue of safety in the 221sq km Park. It is a problem which requires collective and community driven action. Per the Tokai-Cecilia Management Framework, negotiated between the public and SANParks in 2007, Parkscape is also acutely aware of the need for safe and shaded urban greenspace within the buffer zones, which can deliver all the benefits of green infrastructure - ecosystem services - particularly as regards physical and mental health and well-being, and some aspects of climate change mitigation - particularly as regards reducing urban temperatures, while maintaining the treed aesthetic of the cultural landscape of the Constantia-Tokai valley. TMNP is uniquely situated within an urban setting and is, as such, an urban national park and a people’s park. Unlike rural parks such as Kruger National Park, TMNP must meet a broad range of needs from conservation of the Cape Floral Kingdom and Afrotemperate forests to local user needs, particularly the needs of communities that need urban greenspace. Management strategies for the Park must therefore be specific to meeting the demands of an increasingly densified and diverse city environment, from conservation to urban greening and urban forestry for human health and well-being, climate change and sustainable city goals per the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Unfortunately local users regularly run into issues that hinge primarily around safety with respect to crime and fire, access and creeping fees, and failure to manage and maintain infrastructure and biodiversity within the Park. Increasingly locals feel excluded from “their mountain”, with the failure to sufficiently reinvest in the Park exacerbating the situation. The focus on fynbos biodiversity to the exclusion of other biodiversity - including urban forests - and the failure to effectively manage the shrinking buffer zones which lie adjacent to urban edges add to various growing problems. In light of ongoing crime in the Park, together with increased incidents of fire throughout the Park - and an historical reluctance of the SANParks to engage with the public – the vision was born to refocus activity in the buffer zones (per the original foundation documents which underpin the Park’s formation) for the people of Cape Town, starting with Lower Tokai as a potential model. Parkscape’s vision is to create safe, biodiverse and shaded (afforestation of Afrotemperate forest and non invasive exotic species) urban greenspace for all within the buffer zones of the Park, while also providing opportunities for social upliftment, community development, cultural and environmental education – all of which will ultimately serve to address safety concerns.

26/02/2026

Take a short (or long) stroll in Tokai forest and enjoy the cool breeze moving through the trees.

26/02/2026

Love trees? Then go along to the launch of "Sappi Tree Spotting Cape: From Coast to Kalahari" on Tuesday, 3 March at the Kirstenbosch Bookshop (Gate 1 at Kirstenbosch) at 17.30 for 18.00

Professor Eugene Moll a respected South African botanist, author and naturalist will be in conversation with Michaela Badenhorst, Partnerships Manager of the Greenpop Foundation.

The beautifully illustrated Sappi tree spotting books are the perfect guide for both beginners and experts making finding trees easy, enjoyable and rewarding. Sappi Tree Spotting Cape features the region's rich assortment of indigenous trees and shrubs, from the king protea to the tall yellowwoods of the southern forests.

25/02/2026

Remembering 7 March 2016...

https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/tokai-commemorative-walk-10-years-after-franziskas-passing/

The community will gather again in Lower Tokai to remember Franziska Blöchliger and honour her young life lost too soon.

24/02/2026

From a striking sunrise to the formation of impressive clouds, the weather couldn't seem to make up its mind today. And, as summer continues, the water levels in Lower Tokai are slowly dropping. How fortunate that the rivers have continued flowing for so long this season.

24/02/2026

A reminder of our next this coming Saturday 28 February in partnership with Premier Security and community partners.
We will meet at 08.45 for an 09.00 start at the Ribbon Gate, corner Dennendal West Avenue and Orpen Road.
Bring along the kids and dogs (leash and activity permit required for dogs) and join us for a gentle 3 - 4 km walk around Lower Tokai and Tokai Forest.

The Parkscape Visible Safety Patrol is a core part of the Parkscape's (which you can read more about on our website at https://parkscape.org.za/safety/crime-management/)

We look forward to seeing you along with our friends and partners on the 28th!

SANParks - Table Mountain National Park
SANParks Honorary Rangers
SAPS and Reservists
City of Cape Town Law Enforcement and Metro Equestrian Unit
Kirstenhof Community Police Forum
Tokai Neighbourhood Crime Watch
KCW - Kirstenhof Crime Watch
- Lakeside Community Watch
Village Crime Watch
Constantia Watch
Constantia Hills RA and Community Watch
Westlake Neighbourhood Watch
K9 Trailing
Tokai District Riding Association
Ward 71 News
Table Mountain Watch

21/02/2026

Another set of gorgeous photos from (you can follow her on Instagram for more)!

These tiny creatures really encourage one to look more closely at the world around us in both the forest and the fynbos.

21/02/2026

An early morning walk in Lower Tokai is a good way to start the weekend, especially if you are looking for an opportunity to relax after a busy week.

20/02/2026

Shared from SANParks - Table Mountain National Park

TMNP DRAFT PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN

"NOTICE TO TABLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK AND TABLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK MARINE PROTECTED AREA STAKEHOLDERS

Notice is hereby given to all interested and affected parties that SANParks is developing the management plan for the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area (TMNP MPA) and reviewing the management plan for Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) in terms of sections 39, 40 and 41 of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No. 57 of 2003) (NEM: PAA). The purpose of these management plans is to guide the management of the national park and MPA for the period 2027 – 2036.

The NEM: PAA require that interested or affected persons be given the opportunity to comment on these management plans. To facilitate participation, electronic versions of these draft documents will be available from 09 February 2026 on the SANParks website www.sanparks.org/conservation/park_man/draft_plans_public_comment.php.

The respective documents may also be viewed at the attached locations from 09 February 2026. Please note the due date for comments is 03 April 2026."

PLEASE NOTE THAT CONSTANTIA VALLEY STAKEHOLDERS CAN ATTEND THE TMNP PARK DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS ON TUESDAY, 24 FEBRUARY AT 09.00 AT THE CAPE RESEARCH CENTRE ON TOKAI ROAD (opposite the picnic site).
Stakeholders interested in the Marine Protected Area Draft Managed Plan can attend a public participation process at 16.00 on Tuesday 24 February, also at the Cape Research Centre.

20/02/2026

Setting you up for a safe and peaceful weekend with scenes from some of this week's evening walks and patrols in .

18/02/2026

10-YEAR COMMEMORATIVE PATROL - SATURDAY 7 MARCH 2026

Ten years ago, on Monday 7th March 2016, 16 year old Franziska Blöchliger was found r**ed and murdered in the fynbos of Lower Tokai, 10m away from the edge of the plantation.

The memory is etched vividly and forever in our minds, having arrived at the forest for a dog walk to find the corner of Dennendal West Avenue and Orpen Road congested with emergency vehicles.
We knew something bad had happened, but until a member of the Kirstenhof Crime Watch walked towards us mouthing the word "Dead", we had no idea of the severity of the incident, or the horrific act of gender-based violence that had been committed.

In shock and silence we took an immediate decision, with members of the Kirstenhof Crime Watch, to reclaim the forest there and then, to walk in the eery stillness of the lingering horror that haunted our beloved forest.

On the same day, having warned SANParks in 2007 of exactly this risk, we made the decision to form Parkscape. Our vision was, and remains, to create safe, bio-diverse, open and shaded urban parks in the buffer zones of Table Mountain National Park, starting with Lower Tokai as a model.

As we commemorate the 10th anniversary of Franziska's brutal death, we continue to work and to fight for our vision, to create a safe, shaded urban sanctuary, where every girl and woman can walk, run, ride and play safely.

We have not forgotten. And we will never forget.

We invite you to join us on Saturday 7 March 2026 at 09.00 on a commemorative walk of Lower Tokai. We will meet at the Ribbon Gate, where ribbons will be supplied, before walking to the site of Franziska's cross, the exact place where she was killed. From there we will walk the perimeter of Lower Tokai, coming back to the Ribbon Gate through the forest.
All details in the poster below.

Please join Parkscape and our partners as we honour the life lost and continue the quest to create safe and shaded spaces for all.

Premier Security
Pro-Sec Technologies
Fidelity ADT
SANParks - Table Mountain National Park
SANParks Honorary Rangers
SAPS and Reservists
City of Cape Town Law Enforcement and Metro Equestrian Unit
Ward 71 News
KCW - Kirstenhof Crime Watch
Constantia Watch
Kirstenhof Community Police Forum
Tokai Neighbourhood Crime Watch
Women of Westlake Village Child Protection Organization
Westlake Neighbourhood Watch
Table Mountain Watch
K9 Trailing
Constantia Hills RA and Community Watch
Tokai Residents’ Association
KERA - Kirstenhof and Environs Residents' Association Page
Tokai District Riding Association
Village Neighbourhood Watch
Lakeside Community Watch
Women For Change

17/02/2026

Blisteringly hot summer days... And oh the blessed relief of a cool forest in the gentle dusk of evening.

As temperatures increase and our city densifies, so increasingly rare - and deeply special places - like become priceless.

With the Draft Park Management Plan now released (it's available on the TMNP website) and making no mention of the future of the forest, the onus lies with all of us to fight for what we hold dear.

17/02/2026

What a beautiful cool morning in Lower Tokai, with the mist swirling around , until the sun slowly appeared and made its presence felt.

Address

Tokai

Website

http://www.parkscape.org.za/

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