Cowies Hill Estate's green team is cleaning up the neighbourhood

Once part of a farm known as Buffelskop (Buffalo Head), and later named in honour of its owner William Cowie, Cowies Hill today is a small upmarket residential suburb of Pinetown blessed with panoramic views and beautiful natural surroundings. However, it is probably best known as one of the big five hills in the Comrades Marathon, where runners pit themselves against this notorious incline in their pursuit of running glory. And always cheering them along from the roadside is the close-knit community of Cowies Hill residents. 

A united community is a safer and stronger community
In fact, it is this strong sense of community-mindedness that lead to the residents establishing Cowies Hill Estate (CHE). Launched in 2019, this highly successful community initiative is solely funded by its resident members and dedicated to the neighbourhood's safety and security. Working together for the common good of everyone who lives and works in the area, Cowies Hill Estate protects its residents with frictionless boom gates, 24-7 dedicated security vehicle patrols, CCTV roadside surveillance with a licence plate recognition system, a dedicated control room operator, and a community app for communication. CHE is professionally run by a full-time Estate Management team that also tackles any municipal issues that arise in the precinct. It is an estate model that has born phenomenal fruit seeing crime statistics plunge and property values rise. 

Branching out into biodiversity
After three successful years in operation, CHE is now branching out and has begun tackling another thorny issue - the conservation, beautification and rehabilitation of the natural environment. Under the guidance of conservation experts, and proudly sporting their green shirts and sun hats, the CHE green team are always seen hard at work clearing invasive alien plants (IAPs), planting new indigenous plants and trees, and building bridges, paths and walkways to make the natural areas beautiful, safe and accessible. With the support of local businesses and volunteer residents, the Estate's Biodiversity Restoration Project is ensuring that Cowies Hill's public spaces, parks and verges are being cleaned up and restored, one project at a time. 

Conservancy areas 
Now officially registered with the KZN Conservancies Association, the Cowies Hill Conservancy has identified four public open spaces in Cowies Hill for upliftment and conservation. These include Avon Place Conservancy Park, Tunbridge Conservancy Park, Comrades Corner and MacDonald Road Wetland Area. Already, these industrious souls have constructed bridges over the streams at Avon Place and Tunbridge Conservancy Parks. All four conservancies have undergone intensive IAP removals and massive litter cleanups, with plans to clear paths and lay trails for walkers and bird watchers. 

Thanks to the Estate's drive to maintain, beautify and conserve these green spaces, Cowies Hill residents are benefiting from a cleaner and more scenic natural environment, enjoying their parks and taking walks through the unspoilt indigenous bush - perhaps even treading in the footsteps of old William Cowie himself.