Heritage Day marked with tree planting initiative at Woodview Primary

AS PART of the 'My Tree, My Oxygen' initiative, Woodview Primary School became the focal point for environmental action when 300 trees were distributed to Phoenix schools, inspiring pupils to become guardians of nature.

On Friday, Narend Singh, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, announced that Woodview Primary School would be a key hub for the government’s One Million Trees campaign, inspiring pupils to honour Heritage Day by planting trees for a sustainable future.

Singh planted the first two trees with principal Pat Ramsurrup and his wife, Sangeetha.

Pupils and teachers from other schools also attended this historic event.

Singh emphasised the importance of Heritage Day, not just as a celebration of culture, but as an opportunity to honour and preserve the natural heritage for future generations.

“Planting these trees at Woodview Primary and donating 300 trees to local schools, is in a bid to encourage our pupils to value nature and what it offers us.

“Our ancestors also respected nature and the environment. If you look at some of our religious books that were written thousands of years ago, you will see they referred to the environment and preserving and protecting the environment, the waterways, the trees and the animals. So fauna and flora must be a very important thing for us to remember every day of our lives,” said Singh.

Singh praised this which initiative saw the private sector and individuals come together to donate the trees.

“If we can work in this manner, we can preserve the planet,” he added. Priyanthie Naicker, agrade 6 pupil,  said: “Trees are respected for the many products we get from them, but also for the spiritual and cultural importance our lives. The power one seed has is amazing. Imagine how we can all benefit from planting a tree. We can’t exist without this heritage.”

Mlondolozi Zungu, a Grade 7 pupil, said: “Trees give us oxygen and life. They have been around for millions of years, and their seeds ensure they are still present in our world today. We must keep planting so the trees are in our future too.”

Earlier this year, the One Million Trees Campaign with the empowering theme, “My Tree, My Oxygen. Plant Yours Today – was launched.

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