The University of Pretoria (UP) celebrated Arbor Week at the Mamelodi Campus by planting trees sponsored by Wildroute Environmental Consultants CC, a leader in the fields of wildlife management and environmental consulting.

Ms Ilze Ueckermann, Manager of the Environmental Management Services Unit at UP, explains that it was a celebration of beauty and the importance of trees. It is symbolic of the end of winter and of new beginnings.  

Student association the Greenline Society plans to plant 500 trees on the University's campuses. It was agreed that that the process would begin with the plating of 30 trees per campus. The remainder will be planted as the season progresses. Some trees will also be distributed to schools and charities in the surrounding area.

Among the trees that were planted are a couple of special species, namely river bushwillow (Combretum erythrophykum), monkey thorn (Acacia galpinii), coral tree (Erythrina lysisteman)  and red stinkwood (Prunus africana).

Some of the delegates who attended the auspicious occasion were Prof Susan Adendorff, Director of the Department of Facilities Management; Prof Nthabiseng Ogude, Dean of the Mamelodi Campus; and Miss Earth 2015, Carla Viktor.

The event was very successful and the Greenline Society achieved their goal of contributing to the greenery of the University's campuses. 'These trees will provide shade and aesthetic value for generations to come,' said Ms Ueckermann