CHILDREN at Briardene Informal Settlement spent their Friday learning how to live, work and leave a green legacy and the importance of Arbor Day. The eThekwini Parks department planted a number of trees around the area, which included a mango tree and an acacia tree.

Facilitated by ward councillor Shaun Ryley and members of the Briardene Youth Centre (BYC), some of the children helped shovel in the manure and water the plants.

Hamburg native Jakob Meiffert who has helped fund the centre through the Organisation for Strategic Development (OSDA) said he hoped the tree planting would serve as an educational tool.

“Environmental sustainability is an extremely important issue and I’m hoping the planting of trees here today help educate the children about their importance. Two of the trees are close to the playground we set up so that they will keep a close eye on their wellbeing,” Meiffert said.

Ryley said an enduring message of Arbour Day was conserving our world.

“The aim of today’s initiatitive is to educate children and residents about their carbon footprint by planting and taking care of trees. These greening initiatives will result in residents taking a greater sense of ownership of their natural environments,” he said.