KZN Family become Free Air Members
- Shannon Hagemann
- July 08,2011, 03:54 AM
A family in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa took on the challenge to become members of The Earth Organization's Free Air club and effectively reduce their impact on the environment. Three generations got together at the weekend to plant 3 indigenous trees in their garden creating a lasting green legacy, impacting positively on their environment and overall had a great day’s fun in the process!
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We got lots of joy and satisfaction out of the process and the kids learnt a lesson in taking care of our earth.”
WHY INDIGENOUS?
I
ndigenous trees are adapted to the climate and environmental conditions in your region and are therefore more likely to survive to maturity. They also attract indigenous insects, birds and other creatures thereby establishing entire ecosystems within their branch and root systems. In drier regions, indigenous trees generally require much less water than exotic species, thereby reducing the demand for water on their surroundings. Using invader species can threaten your local ecosystems. Indigenous is always best!
The species planted were:
White Iron Wood (Vepris lanceolata)
The white ironwood is mostly an evergreen shrub or small tree of up to 5 m in height, but can reach a height of 20 m in dry forest areas. The bark is smooth and grey to dark grey in colour.
This lovely plant occurs in dune, riverine and low-lying forest along the coast from the Western Cape, through Eastern Cape to Kwazulu-Natal and the woodland and escarpment forests in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, the northern section of Gauteng and the north-eastern section of the North-West Province.
Author: Karin Behr - Pretoria National Botanical Garden, November 2004
Tassel Berry (
Antidesma venosum)
The Tassel Berry is a small tree, usually growing between three and seven metres tall – depending on its habitat.
Interestingly this tree has separate sexes and both male and female trees are needed in order for the females to bear fruit. The fruit however is rich in colour and taste, attracting a wide variety of birds and insects to your garden.