WATCH: Paddadam – Putting down roots for Arbour Day

"From September 1 to 7 every year, schools, businesses and organizations are encouraged to participate in community 'greening' events to improve the health and beauty of the local environment and propose a green future for South Africa."

September 8, 2015

Elaine Rodway 1 minute read

Michaelis pupils wash their hands after getting down to some dusty work, planting trees for Arbour Day at the Paddadam.

IN SOUTH Africa, according to the website, www.plantzafrica.com, Arbour Day was first celebrated in 1983.

“The event captured the imagination of people who recognized the need for raising awareness of the value of trees in our society. As sources of building material, food, medicine, and simple scenic beauty, trees play a vital role in the health and well-being of our communities.”

Morning Sun Academy were at the Paddadam on September 1, celebrating Arbour Day by planting trees.

“Collective enthusiasm for the importance of this issue in South Africa inspired the national government, in 1999, to extend the celebration of Arbour Day to National Arbour Week.” says the website. “From September 1 to 7 every year, schools, businesses and organizations are encouraged to participate in community ‘greening’ events to improve the health and beauty of the local environment and propose a green future for South Africa.”

Leon Prinsloo (AfriForum); Kyle Stone; Henry Nel (AfriForum) and Doug Grewar, pleased with the support of the public and the steady progress at the Paddadam, were at the head of the Arbour Day celebrations and the tree planting event. Grewar has been working tirelessly to restore the Paddadam Park to it's former glory, donating a substantial amount of his time to the Paddadam Clean Up Project. — Leon Prinsloo (AfriForum); Kyle Stone; Henry Nel (AfriForum) and Doug Grewar, pleased with the support of the public and the steady progress at the Paddadam, were at the head of the Arbour Day celebrations and the tree planting event. Grewar has been working tirelessly to restore the Paddadam Park to it’s former glory, donating a substantial amount of his time to the Paddadam Clean Up Project.

This was the motivation at the Paddadam Park on September 1, when AfriForum Vryheid joined forces with Doug Grewar, the man at the helm of the Paddadam Clean Up Project, culminating in a mutually beneficial collaboration between the celebration of Arbour Day and the upliftment of the park through the planting of trees.

Michaelis girls pitched in to assist with the tree planting ceremony at the Paddadam on September 1, in celebration of Arbour Day.

Reaching out to future generations with this importunate message of planting trees for the future, pupils from Morning Sun Academy; Michaelis Schule; Pioneer High School and Vryheid High School were invited to assist with the physical task of planting the trees, which were donated by Sanlam and Afriforum. Jan Combrinck donated man hours and his TLB to preparing the area by digging the holes for the trees to be planted.

” A big thank you to all the supporters of The Paddadam Clean-up Project.” enthused Grewar on social media regarding the overall restoration of the park. “We have a good chance of completing this project before the rains with continued support from the Community and the Municipality. Please donate generously at Sparrow Computers. We urgently need graders, TLBs, dump or tipper trucks and excavators.”