Be part of tourism initiative

On the Klip-Ancient Mountainscape The Craft Route leaders from left are Graham Dreyer, craft area facilitator, Lotus River, Fiona Edwards, craft area facilitator, Zeekovlei; Vanessa and Ricky Rykliff, craft area facilitator, Pelican Park/Schaapkraal; Liezel Lopes, craft area facilitator, Cafda Village and Sandra Green, craft area facilitator, Parkwood/Fairways.

After two years of engagement, a local tourism development initiative in Grassy Park, which aims to uncover and share heritage and local tourism storylines, the Community ThinkTank organisation and Grassy Park Community Tourism members are ready to launch this tourism initiative.

Robin Oakes, founder of the Community ThinkTank organisation and The Green Route – Grassy Park Community Tourism, said that Grassy Park and its surrounds comprised ultra-abundant natural, heritage and cultural environment with previously uncovered links to local indigenous peoples.

He said they met with Cape Town Tourism directors in 2018 where they shared their concept, which was well-received.

Mr Oakes said The Green Route and the many tours, within it, were borne from this abundant local narrative. 

“The Green Route is therefore a local swathe of communities and natural environs which stretches from Cafda, through Grassy Park, around our wetlands, to Schaapkraal and the Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA) and up to the local shoreline.

“We encourage any person, organisation or business who feels that they have undiscovered, local tourism value, to add to the current pool of unique offerings within The Green Route initiative to join us.”

Mr Oakes also outlined The Craft Route concept: “The Craft Route and its crafters with their skills, heritage, arts, crafts and entrepreneurship development route (throughout the Grassy Park communities) also forms part of this broader community tourism initiative – The Green Route.

“Be free to contact us if you are an artist, crafter, foodie, poet, storyteller or musician. Although The Craft Route is an intrinsic and dedicated route within the tourism route it is also a stand-alone entrepreneurship development initiative where local crafters are encouraged and trained to open their homes to daily trading to offer a creative channel for local shoppers to buy handicraft from within their local neighbour-
hoods.”

The Community ThinkTank organisation and The Green Route aim to broadly open this channel to any relative person, institution, organisation or business from within the broader Grassy Park community, Cafda Village, Grassy Park, Zeekoeivlei, Goolhurst Estate, Parkwood Estate, Fairways, portions of Ottery, Lotus River, Schaapkraal, Pelican Park and New Horizons.

For more information you can call
021 705 5705 or email info@TheGreenRoute.co.za or visit their website www.CommunityThink
TankSA.org