Learners plan to plant 1 000 trees

Spring was in the air when Grade 8 to 11 learners of Mitchell House gathered at the school’s garden of remembrance last Thursday to launch a project to plant 1 000 spekboom (Portulacaria afra) trees on the premises in celebration of Arbour Day.
The trees were donated by the Rotary Club of Polokwane and Grade 10 learners who are members of the Rotary Interact Club, the recently established Rotary ‘youth arm’ at the school, facilitated the ceremonial planting of the first trees. A service provider specialising in horticulture, plant production and landscaping from a training facility in Ga-Matlala coached the learners on how to plant the trees and how to take care of them.
Mitchell House headmaster, Andrew Cook said that some of the trees will be planted on the perimeters of the school’s sports fields situated next to the N1 Eastern bypass and will act as a visual and sound barrier.
“When the road came, the school was already here and the trees will mitigate the impact of the traffic,” Cook explained.
Natalia Letsoalo, President of the local Rotary Interact Club, said that she was very excited about the project. “We did not only learn a lot about trees and their ecological importance, but also had an opportunity to leave a legacy,” Natalia said.

Story and photos: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com