Women’s Month: Noelene le Cordier, blooming where she’s planted

Noelene le Cordier started as part of the team responsible for maintaining the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) sports fields and has since transitioned into a role of senior horticulturist in the Garden & Grounds division. As a woman entering a male-dominated industry, she might have found it a “toxic” environment and admits to being aware of it when she had to attend external conferences, seminars, or workshops.

“Attending turf gatherings [in those earlier years] in the sports industry, you became more consciously aware that you are a little bit isolated in terms of [being a] woman,” Le Cordier said.  

“But on campus, the people that I have worked with over these last three decades have been very supportive. Right from the start, it was like they wanted me to succeed at my job.”

She has been at UCT for 34 years and considers herself “very blessed”.

“I must confess that it was quite a fascinating time [before South African sport was unified] for me, and I honestly cannot say that I experienced any unpleasantness. I have been blessed to work with a lovely team,” she said.

“I met a lot of interesting, people in sports, and during that time, I had the opportunity also to visit other international sports venues like Leeds United and Manchester United. Including conferences on cricket pitch maintenance.”

Evolution of the Urban Forest

Fast forward a few years, and Le Cordier is in charge of the UCT Urban Forest Management Plan. Her range is as remarkable as the number of plant and tree species that are planted, nurtured, and maintained on all UCT properties, inside and outside each building. Le Cordier and her team regularly consult with arborists and academia in the biodiversity and geology field. This is to ensure that they manage the Urban Forest Management Plan effectively while being environmentally responsible.

They also have to consult with specialised professional arborists, she added, “because [the Urban Forest Management Plan] is built on a specific methodology which starts with your tree inventory management system”.

“As I’ve mentioned, we are moving away from more traditional Western plantings, and have moved into indigenous species.”

The Urban Forest is exactly what it says – a forest in the built or urban environment. These trees are from nature, but they are not in nature and therefore need special care using arboriculture practices. This is compared to commercial plantation forestry which uses silvicultural practices.  

“The trees in Urban Forests are part of UCT’s green infrastructure assets. They cost money to plant and to care for over many years, but like the brick-and-mortar assets of an urban environment, well-timed proactive maintenance and care of the green infrastructure, especially trees, lowers future maintenance costs and increases landscape and environmental functionality. This is especially important given our changing climate,” Le Cordier explained.

“As I’ve mentioned, we are moving away from more traditional Western plantings, and have moved into indigenous species, building up our botanical biodiversity with plantings that are water-wise and, where possible, fire resistant.”

Rise from the 2021 ashes

The devasting fire in 2021 did not just damage the upper and middle campus buildings and infrastructures; it also ravaged five hectares of trees and plants. These have had to be replaced. The work that has been conducted by Le Cordier and her team within the Property & Services Department involves not only the upkeep of the Urban Forest Management Plan but also minimising the future risk of runaway veld fires.

“It is about building up a botanically diverse stock that is going to work from a fire perspective; plants that are fire resistant, hardy, low maintenance, water-wise, all those things. One of the challenges, but a hugely positive challenge, is that UCT’s campus is a large urban park whose appearance, environmental functionality, and botanical integrity have to be maintained.”

“Trees (which live and grow over many years) represent the largest portion of the vegetation in these areas, so long-term management strategies are important to ensure their continuous contributions”

The fire changed much of the UCT landscape. But it did, however, create an opportunity to re-assess the estate. The area between Table Mountain National Park (TNP) and UCT was destroyed. This area can now develop by incorporating the natural vegetation on Table Mountain’s southern slopes before the transition into more managed landscapes, car parks, streetscapes, recreational parks and sports fields, she said.

“Trees (which live and grow over many years) represent the largest portion of the vegetation in these areas, so long-term management strategies are important to ensure their continuous contributions.

“UCT has historic landscapes that use exotic but naturalised and culturally acceptable trees such as English oaks, Plane trees and Stone pines. Many survive but are increasingly threatened by climate and new pests such as shot borer. It is important to plant trees and vegetation adapted to local conditions.”   

Part of her responsibilities is to also ensure that all UCT events and functions have access to plant, tree, and greenery arrangements based on the brief of the event organisers. This, le Cordier said, is one of the most fulfilling parts of her work.

“A beautiful environment is necessary; it humanises people. A university is a place where interesting ideas are developed, and you want to have an environment that is conducive to that positive thought.

“UCT is such a beautiful campus that has an abundance of greenery and trees, everywhere you look it is just so beautiful. We moved away from that more traditional, Western type of plant to choosing plants that are more representative and indigenous to Southern Africa. We are here to create an attractive green environment, whether it be looking after the trees, the lawns, the shrubberies; everything that is growing on the campus falls into my department and we have to make this a more attractive environment with an urban green setting.