Tree Planting
Since September 2016 we have planted over 200 indigenous trees in Ernest Ullmann Park and along the Sandspruit, from 3 metre tall Stinkwoods to small Sand Olive saplings.
Since September 2016 we have planted over 200 indigenous trees in Ernest Ullmann Park and along the Sandspruit, from 3 metre tall Stinkwoods to small Sand Olive saplings.
18 September 2016
updated 4 Januaury 2017
The trees we planted back in September are mostly well established now and should be able to cope with any winter frost. The intensive watering regime during the drought at the beginning of summer has definitley paid off (the saplings were being watered twice a day, every day, with buckets of water from the Sandspruit).
So, what has been planted? The trees we selected have been chosen primarily to attract birds, whether for fruit, seed or preferred nesting trees. All are obviously indigenous and most are extremely drought and frost hardy. Here is a list of the trees planted in 2016/2017 that are still thriving. In addition to these, we have another 35 trees that we have planted further along the Sandspruit River which are doing well.
| 3 | Wild Pear (Dombeya rotundifolia) | |
| 3 | Bluebush (Diospyros lycioides) | |
| 6 | Cross Berry (Grewia occidentalis) | |
| 9 | Kei Apple (Dovyalis caffra) | |
| 3 | Parsley Tree (Heteromorpha arborescens) | |
| 3 | Dogwood (Rhamnus prinoides) | |
| 2 | Forest Bushwillow (Combretum kraussii) | |
| 3 | Tree Fuchsia (Halleria lucida) | |
| 3 | River Bushwillow (Combretum erythrophyllum) | |
| 10 | Stinkwood (Celtis africana) | |
| 6 | Monkey Thorn (Senegalia galpinii) | |
| 1 | Paperbark Thorn (Vachellia sieberiana var. Woodii) | |
| 22 | Karee (Searsia lancea) | |
| 6 | False Olive (Buddleja saligna) | |
| 17 | September Bush (Polygala myrtifolia) | |
| 4 | Sand Olive (Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia) | |
| 20 | Lavendar Tree (Heteropyxis natalensis) | |
| 4 | African Olive (Olea europaea subsp. africana) | |
| 3 | Puzzle Bush (Ehretia rigida) | |
| 1 | Soap Bush (Noltea africana) | |
| 1 | Assegai (Curtisia dentata) | |
| 1 | Tree Aloe (Aloe barberae) | |
| 131 | Total trees (and counting) |
Unfortunately, despite inserting poles with red warning tape, and keeping a square metre of grass cut around each tree, the City Parks mowers have managed to mow over 40 trees so far and every time they mow, the count goes up. All the Monkey Thorns (Senegalia galpinii) have been topped and even 1.5m Karee trees (Searsia lancia) with red warning tape tied to them have been mowed. This is extremely frustrating, but there is nothing we can do about it as all forms of communication appear to be ignored.
At the beginning of the planting season, during the drought and extreme heat, we inevitably lost many smaller trees to the elements. Including these trees and the the ones killed by City Park's mowers, we have actually planted well over 200 trees this season, but this is only the start of the tree planting campaign. We still intend to plant many more indigenous trees all the way up to South Road.
Please help... This worthwhile community project needs your help to keep it alive. We cannot provide the trees, labour, equipment and consumables without your assistance. Please help us where you can...
When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.