Keynote speakers including Mayor of Vredenburg, Ms Stoffels, Pippa Haarhof, Dipolelo Elford and Ashia Petersen gave lectures regarding the value and importance of trees.
People infected and affected with HIV and Aids were instructed about the importance of eating fresh fruit and vegetables, promoting positive living. In addition to this staff of the Department gathered clothing items and donated it to the NGO.
The Department values trees as its benefits include filtration and absorption of air pollutants, reduced storm water run off and generally it impacts on the quality of life. Trees help to maintain low levels of carbon dioxide, thereby reducing the greenhouse effect, which threatens to make the earth uncomfortably warm, therefore minimises global warming.
Nature's air conditioners have been providing us with clean air for years. Trees, one of the most effective oxygen producers, in actual fact one tree offers four people oxygen to breath for an entire year. The realization of the value of trees becomes so much more tangible once it is brought down to numbers. By planting a tree, we are offering our children and children's children a better quality of life. Trees have got a lifespan of more than 100 years, therefore a lifetime investment will be made if we plant a tree today.
Trees have got commercial, aesthetic and ecological value. It creates shelter for humans and animals and creates beautiful scenery for the earth. Trees are a source of life and a motivation as it represents so much more in our lives. For example it shows us how to develop slowly into strong and steady beings, its roots are strong and can take many blows but remains rigid. It remains loyal in terms of its function and it perseveres through most situations.
As a way forward it will be good to know the correct procedure to plant a tree. A tree is the symbol of life for any individual, family, community and society. Take the time to make a contribution with loads of benefits for the future.
Here are the simple steps to plant a tree:
- Dig a square hole, allowing the roots to grow outward.
- The hole needs to be three times the size of the container of the tree.
- Keep the topsoil you remove from the hole separate from the lighter topsoil.
- Place some of this mixed soil back in the hole and water well.
- Remove tree from container/bag and lightly loosen soil around root.
- Place in center of hole and fill with soil mixture. Press soil down firmly and water well.
- Add mulch (wood chips) around base of tree to conserve water and reduce soil temperature.
- Tie the tree to a pole with a stocking. The pole needs to face the windy side of the tree.
- Give the tree water regularly.
