Schools received new plant books from the Herb Society of South Africa at a presentation hosted by the Botanical Society at the Durban Botanic Gardens last month.

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The Herb Society had voted to dissolve, as membership was dwindling and no-one was willing to take office.  Their President, Brenda Webster, passed away in 2016.  At the Herb Society meeting the members agreed to disburse their funds to the Botanical Society of South Africa KZN Coastal Branch (BotSoc).  Long-time members Jane Patton and Margie Voogt were tasked with seeing this through. They, together with BotSoc, agreed to that the money should be spent on buying plant books for schools.

At the function at Botanic Gardens, Janet Longman of BotSoc remembered the long association BotSoc had had with the Herb Society in the 20 year history of the BotSoc Annual Indigenous Plant Fair.

Martin Clement, Curator of the Durban Botanic Gardens, said that plants connect people and cultures.  The Durban Botanic Gardens was the ideal place for people to learn about the role of plants in our lives in these times when some children live through computer and TV screens and are often disconnected with nature.  The different societies play amazing roles in education.  Martin thanked the Herb Society for all they had done over the years.

Jane Patton said that the Durban Branch of the Herb Society held their first meeting in 1979.  Over the years they had helped maintain the herb garden at Durban Botanic Gardens. At one stage membership amounted to 667 members. Jane hoped the teachers would carry on the good work and pass on knowledge about plants to their pupils.

The Herb Society’s Margie Voogt said her wish was that these books would inspire young people to grow plants and perhaps to have careers with plants such as botanists and ecologists.

The survival of humankind and animals all depends on plants. 

She closed with an inspiring quote by David Attenborough: ‘No-one will protect what they don’t care about, and no-one will care about what they have never experienced.’ Margie urged the teachers to encourage their pupils to learn and care about nature.

All the primary schools selected received the book, Bring Nature Back to your Garden, by Charles & Julia Botha, and the high schools received that book as well as People’s Plants by Ben-Eric van Wyk and Nigel Gericke, and Indigenous Healing Plants by Margaret Roberts and Sandy Roberts.

Schools selected were Amanzimtoti Primary, Buffelsdale Secondary, Clarence Road Primary, Danville Park High, Durban Girls High, Durban Girls Secondary, Futura High, Gordon Road Girls’ School, Hopeview Primary, Isipingo Secondary, Kwathintwa School for the Deaf, Menzi High, Phoenix Primary, Ridge Park College, St. Augustine’s Primary, Dr. B. W. Vilikazi Primary, Virginia Prep, Westville Girls High, Woodview Primary and two eThekwini Municipality mobile libraries. Criteria for nomination were that there was some connection with one of the societies, to have school libraries, and, where applicable, a 100 % matric pass rate showing dedication by learners and teachers.

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