Flora and Fauna

The park is dotted with trees – 70 different species have been identified, 35 indigenous, 35 exotic. In addition, 29 grass species have been found and 78 species of shrubs (18 of which are exotic).

Alberts Farm, unlike other parks such as Zoo Lake, is deliberately left largely in its natural state, says Alan Buff, the general manager of technical support and training at Johannesburg City Parks.

“We don’t manage all parks like a bowling green, but rather we look at the natural environment to maintain the biodiversity of the park.” This principle also applies to Delta Park.

Buff says that in the 1970s, when Delta Park was being established as a public park, white guinea fowl, ducks and small animals (and several springs) were found in the long grass, which was subsequently left uncut for the wildlife.