Tag: Parks

History of St Georges Park

Last weekend I was part of the most informative walking tour of St Georges Park.  Photographer and journalist Ivor Markman has done some tremendous research on the park and it's history over the years and in the process not just collected tons of interesting information, but also some very rare photographs.  Here he is showing … Continue reading History of St Georges Park →

Theescombe Wetland Conservation Area

Just when I think that I know or have seen just about everything there is to know and see in and around Port Elizabeth something else presents itself.  And truth to be told, through Geocaching I'm discovering something new just about on a weekly basis.  Last weekend I took the KidZ to look for a cache in the … Continue reading Theescombe Wetland Conservation Area →

Conservatory history

The Pearson Conservatory in St George's Park was opened by Honourable John X Merriman on 12 September 1882 at a cost of £3,800.  It is named after Mr HW Pearson, the Mayor of Port Elizabeth at that time.The Eastern Province Herald discribed the conservatory as following in an article the next day.  The structure consists of a centre … Continue reading Conservatory history →

The history of the Pearson Conservatory fountain

The Pearson Conservatory was originally built in 1882 and restored to its former glory between 2009 and 2011.  The centre piece of the conservatory is an ornamental fountain made by Andrew Handyside at the Duke Street Foundry "Britannia Iron Works" in Derby in the UK around the same year.  The Britannia Foundry's work was well … Continue reading The history of the Pearson Conservatory fountain →

The Baakens River in Settlers Park

As you may have noticed lately, I have developed a special fondness for the Baakens Valley.  I've always had a bit of a soft spot for it, but since taking up geocaching I've had to venture into it a couple of times to look for caches and have taken my camera with on every occasion.  The spot … Continue reading The Baakens River in Settlers Park →

Mushroom Farm Park – greening urban areas

Johannesburg boasts that it's the world's largest man-made urban forest and that's difficult to imagine until one actually visits the city and see how many open spaces, parks and nature reserves there are.  One of these parks is Mushroom Farm Park in Sandton.  I've passed here a couple of times before but visited for the first time on my … Continue reading Mushroom Farm Park – greening urban areas →

Victoria Park stone bridge

I often wonder how many people realise how many beautiful open spaces Port Elizabeth has. Some of them are natural open spaces like the Baakens Valley which includes Dodds Farm and Settlers Park, Cape Recife Nature Reserve, Sardinia Bay Nature Reserve and Maitland Nature Reserve.  More formal open spaces like St Georges Park, Victoria Park and the Kings … Continue reading Victoria Park stone bridge →