​Sixteen learners from Mary Harding School for children with special needs, were invited by the Executive Mayor Dan Plato to visit the City’s Newlands Nursery to learn about trees and the species that grow best in Cape Town. This was part of the Recreation and Parks Department’s drive to raise awareness about trees, in celebration of Arbor Month.
 
‘We wanted to bring a school to the nursery so that they could explore nature with all of their senses. By feeling the soil and seeing so many trees growing in prime conditions, we hope it gives them a meaningful connection to nature and inspires them to nurture the trees in their community,’ said Executive Mayor Dan Plato.

‘It is vital that we create an interest in the environment in our young people as they are the ones who will in future be looking after our parks and recreation spaces and nature. By involving them in planting trees, we help them understand the importance of being aware of and looking after their surroundings,’ added Mayor Plato.
 
There was a buzz of excitement as the learners were led through a guided tour of hundreds of plants, ranging from seedlings in the greenhouse to walking under the mature tree canopies.
 
The 16 learners were comprised of 6-year-olds to 9-year-olds (in the foundation phase), 10-year-olds to 12-year-olds (in the intermediate phase), 13-year-olds to 15-year-olds (in the senior phase), and 16-year-olds to 18-year-olds (in the occupation-orientated phase). They were accompanied by four teachers, who were very supportive of the outdoor learning experience.

The nursery houses well over 30 tree species, 50 types of shrubs, groundcovers and various aloe, which have adapted to the changing climate since the drought. The tour taught the learners about these different plant species and their important function in our ecosystem.
 
The highlight of the morning was at the end of the tour, when learners could choose the type of trees they wanted to take for planting at their school. It was not an easy choice amid the wide variety, but in the end 10 Searsia pendulina (or white karee/ witkaree) trees were chosen to beautify their school playground.

The Mary Harding School in Athlone is a school for children with intellectual impairments. The school has three playgrounds where the trees were transported for planting afterwards.

A team of the City’s Recreation and Parks horticulturists who had dug holes and prepared the soil for planting, were at the school to receive the group.

Each learner also received a young Olive tree or Spekboom to plant at home. The purpose of this was to reinforce how what is taught at school can also be applied at home.
 
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