THE 1st Royal Scouts Bluff celebrated Arbor Day in full bloom on September 6, when the cubs and scouts gathered to turn the outside of their hall at the old boxing club on Tara Road into a bright display of colour.

Also read: WATCH: Scouts and Cubs aim to be champions for nature

Scouts celebrated the occasion by planting succulents, bushes, flowers and other green plants. They rolled up their sleeves and plucked and planted flower beds in the outside of the club on Tara Road, giving the scouts home a brand new and green facelift.

Tash Pretorius, scout group leader, said, “It is very important to respect nature and our environment. The day taught them responsibility as both cubs and scouts will assist in maintaining the flower beds and watering them. We must not forget just how important trees and flowers are to our environment.”

It was not just about adding a pop of greenery to the hall, but also about paying tribute to Vernon Farr, affectionately nicknamed Hawkeye, who became a member of the 44th Durban Scouts in 1958 and later a scout master for the same hall. Pretorius said Farr left his mark on so many people, including troop leader Mike Lemon and some parents who were once scouts themselves.

“Sadly, Farr passed away on June 3, 2025, before he could get a chance to come visit our group,” said Pretorius.

The 1st Royal Scouts Bluff said that the newly planted beds will be a long-lasting reminder of their commitment to nature, community and values that were acquired through scouting

“By tending to the plants, the cubs and scouts are not only making their hall look pretty but learning valuable lifelong lessons about responsibility, co-operation and the value of giving back,” Pretorius said.

For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.