Intaka Island, the award-winning nature conservation wetlands and Eco-Centre at Century City, celebrated Arbor Week this week with a special programme for learners from Sinenjongo High School in Joe Slovo.

Intaka Eco-Centre manager, Adél van Wyk, said for the second consecutive year groups of Grade 10 Life Science students had spent a fun day on the island learning about trees, the vital role they play in the lives of people and how they contribute to a green, dignified and healthy environment.

“We also stressed the necessity for everyone to plant trees and to care for them.”

She said learners, like last year, had planted tree seedlings on Intaka Island which will be looked after by the Intaka Island field rangers until they are ready to be transplanted at the school.

“Next year learners will do likewise and from the fourth year learners will not only plant seedlings but they will also replant the first year learners grown trees at their school. We will roll this over year after year from then on.”

She said any trees surplus to Sinenjongo’s requirements would be donated to other schools in the area.

Van Wyk said other topics covered in the programme included how Arbor Day began, all the neat things we get from trees, how to identify trees, the importance of composting and water as well as the importance of planting this time of year.