On Sunday 11 April two residents of eNkanini received indigenous trees for their gardens. The recipients, Manezi Mcuba and Likhaya Willie, met two donors, Helen Collett and Richard Davis from Cape Town, and together they prepared the holes and planted a tree in each recipient’s garden.
Up to 10 trees would be planted in each garden during the next week, and 3-5 more recipients will be presented with 10 trees each in the following weeks, said environmental activist Willem Coetzer.
Collett and Davis have made a contribution to the establishment of a small-scale tree nursery initiated by Mcuba and Coetzer. In return for the donation, Mcuba and Coetzer will plant 70-100 trees in eNkanini.
“Trees encourage biodiversity such as birds and beneficial insects, and provide shade and shelter from the wind, and they have aesthetic and cultural value,” Coetzer said.
“On the other hand, trees require protection from goats and cows, and need to be watered conscientiously if they are to thrive. Recipients of trees therefore need to have a water supply and a fence around their property, and must undertake to care for the trees.”
