Transforming Willowmore, One Small Change at a Time
This year, we’re focused on raising awareness of Willowmore—because we believe that small changes can have a big impact. We take inspiration from places like Prince Albert, Howick, Sedgefield, and Graaff-Reinet—towns that took matters into their own hands and are now seeing economic growth and increased tourism.
We aim to begin with restoration of some of the neglected buildings, especially in the town’s main hub, by giving them a fresh coat of paint and much-needed repairs. Public spaces will also be cleaned up and beautified to make Willowmore more inviting to both residents and visitors which will transform how people experience our town. We’re also looking at the possibility of adding wall art to enhance the town's character and uniqueness.
While we know change doesn’t happen overnight, we also know that steady, consistent efforts will get us there.
Our Goals for 2025
Short-Term Goals:
• Ongoing upkeep of the Town Gardens.
• Enhancing and beautifying our town’s entrances.
• Cleaning up key areas along the main road.
• Identifying businesses in need of a facelift and sourcing funds or paint donations.
• Launching a Wall Art Initiative to bring character and vibrancy to Willowmore.
Long-Term Vision:
• Increase tourism in Willowmore.
• Attract new businesses and investment.
• Strengthen our local economy.
This is just the beginning—every small step brings us closer to a town we’re proud to call home. Want to get involved?
Restoring Willowmore’s Green Spaces Together
As part of our Town Upliftment initiative, Revive Willowmore is focusing on the clean-up and restoration of public green spaces and township areas that have been neglected for far too long. Over the years, some of these spaces have become dumping grounds, while others have simply fallen into disrepair. We believe it’s time to change that—but not alone.
Our vision is to work with the community to find practical, lasting solutions. This includes helping to establish designated rubbish dumping points, promoting responsible waste habits, and breathing life back into forgotten green spaces. But to make a real impact, we need more than just good intentions—we need strong partnerships.
That’s why we’re looking to join hands with companies and organisations involved in recycling and upcycling. By managing waste more sustainably, we can transform it into something useful—reducing landfill and even creating opportunities for local projects.
We’re also reaching out to organisations that place volunteers, especially those passionate about community upliftment and environmental care. These partnerships can bring much-needed hands, skills, and energy into our town, working alongside residents who want to see change.
This is about more than just cleaning up—it’s about restoring dignity, pride, and a sense of ownership. With the right support, neglected spaces can once again become places for children to play, families to gather, and communities to thrive.
Together, we can build a cleaner, greener, more hopeful Willowmore.
Karoo Food Garden Initiative (start goal 2026)
Looking ahead, we’re excited about something close to home—literally. One of our biggest hopes for the year is to help more households in Willowmore start growing their own food. Picture veggie gardens taking shape in backyards, feeding families and creating a little more security where it’s needed most.
Food insecurity is a real issue in many small towns, including ours. But the Karoo has its own kind of richness. With some shared knowledge, a bit of compost, and a community willing to get stuck in, we believe we can turn dry patches of soil into gardens that put food on the table and bring people together.
The goal is simple: home food gardens in as many households as possible, with support in the form of tools, training, and guidance to help people get started and keep going.
It’s not just about growing food. It’s about growing confidence, skills, and pride in doing something meaningful with your own hands.
We’re reaching out to other groups who’ve done this successfully elsewhere, learning from their journeys, and hoping to build partnerships along the way. We’re also on the lookout for funding, sponsorships, and donations—anything that can help us provide seeds, materials, and basic resources to the families who want to be part of this.
If you’re someone who loves gardening, has some space you’d like to use, or wants to be part of something hopeful and hands-on, we’d love to connect.
Let’s get Willowmore growing—one garden at a time.
