Soldiers planted 13 indigenous trees, including yellowwoods and the Natal pom-pom at the First City tactical and training base last week. The trees were donated to the army by local businesses and Makana Municipality to celebrate National Arbor Week.
Soldiers planted 13 indigenous trees, including yellowwoods and the Natal pom-pom at the First City tactical and training base last week. The trees were donated to the army by local businesses and Makana Municipality to celebrate National Arbor Week.
"The mark of a civilised man is one who plants more trees than he cuts down," the regiment's Sergeant Major Stanley said. The planting of trees was not just to make the base beautiful, but also an effort to offset its carbon footprint. "We have so many cars here on the base," he said.
Major Robin Collins, a former forester said the First City Regiment were trying to create a culture of conservation within the army and were also making an big effort to reduce their carbon footprint. The soldiers want to make this an annual event at the base.
"Hopefully when people see this they will donate more trees, because we have a huge base to cover," said Stanley.
Arbor Week is celebrated every year from 1-7 September.
