Good to Know
Stellenbosch will soon be home to the world’s biggest labyrinth – 52 900 m², about the size of the Pyramid of Giza’s footprint – made from 90 000 spekboom plants. The Great Labyrinth of Africa will be created using spekboom grown by Wonder Plant, an initiative launched by environmentalist and social activist Peter Shrimpton. Peter’s aim when starting the business was to alleviate poverty in previously disadvantaged areas by helping people start and run their own spekboom nurseries.
Spekboom ( Portulacaria afra) is an indigenous South African succulent that grows naturally in the drier regions; it’s especially prolific in the Eastern Cape around Addo Elephant National Park. It’s adaptable to many different environments and is easy to propagate, but that’s not all… For the amount of water that a spekboom uses, it’s also the most efficient carbon guzzler in the world; even more efficient than a rainforest tree! One plant can absorb 8,5 kg of CO2 in a year and can live for as long as 200 years.
The labyrinth will be a symbol of climate change awareness and will have 13 circuits leading into the centre. Its design is inspired by the Chartres Cathedral in France and it will be built in the new Stellenbosch Bridge Smart City development. Completion is anticipated towards the end of the year.
What is a labyrinth? Unlike a maze, you can’t get lost – the paths in and out are clear. Paths lead towards a centre point through a multitude of twists and turns, designed to encourage mindfulness and symbolise the inward journey.
Help out! Every Saturday is volunteer day.
Where? East Hill Farm, Muldersvlei Road, Stellenbosch
Contact: 073 420 4161; info@heartcapital.co.za
Sources: greatlabyrinth.co.za; capetownetc.com