Sharonlea Primary School receives and plants trees for Arbor Day
Two of the six trees planted by the school could live for thousands of years if not cut down, benefitting generations to come.
Learners at Sharonlea Primary School had fun planting trees and learning about their importance on September 7.
Six trees were donated to the school by Lifestyle Home garden in celebration of Arbor Day, though learners will be able to enjoy these trees for decades, centuries and perhaps even millenia to come.
The class of Grade 6 learners was joined by school principal, Judy Ayres, natural science teacher Alex Frost, chairperson of the school governing body, Lindsay Engelbrecht and chairperson of the Greater Sharonlea Residents Forum, JC Wouters.
“There are some yellowwood trees that are over a thousand years old, while some wild olives in Israel have been found to be four thousand years old,” Frost said before asking learners to tell him what benefits there are of having trees.
The learners explained that trees are a source of food and medicine, while the importance of photosynthesis (the process of turning carbon dioxide into oxygen) cannot be underrated.
A wild olive tree was donated because it is indigenous and a yellowwood was included because it is South Africa’s national tree. Two yesterday, today and tomorrows as well as two jasmin trees were donated because their flowers have great aromas and these trees will provide shade for learners.
Engelbrecht said he was glad to see the community working together for something good. Wouters agreed, adding that the residents forum is eager to work with Frost and other nature enthusiasts to clean green spaces, plant trees and engage in other nature-based projects.
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