JEFFREYS BAY – Kouga Local Municipality marked Arbor Day by helping create a greener learning environment at Pellsrus Primary School, where 100 Spekboom plants were planted on Friday, 11 September 2026.
The initiative formed part of the municipality’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, community participation and creating cleaner, greener spaces across Kouga.
Kouga Local Municipality’s Parks and Waste team worked alongside the Pellsrus Primary School Environmental Group, learners and teachers, as well as Akumila Thrive NGO, to prepare the school grounds and ensure a successful Arbor Day programme.
Municipality prepares the ground
In the days leading up to Arbor Day, municipal teams undertook extensive preparation work at the school.
This included grass cutting, digging planting holes and hoeing to prepare the areas for the Spekboom. A TLB machine was also used to dig holes both inside and outside the school grounds.
The municipality provided and utilised a range of resources for the project, including:
- 100 Spekboom plants.
- TLB machinery.
- Grass-cutting equipment.
- Gardening and planting tools.
These practical interventions demonstrate the important role played by municipal teams in supporting environmental initiatives within local communities.
Planting environmental awareness
The Arbor Day programme was not only about planting trees. It was also an opportunity for Kouga Local Municipality and its partners to educate young people about the importance of caring for the environment.
Learners participated in a play and activities focusing on recycling, tree planting and water harvesting.
Learners from Grades 1 to 3 and Grades 4 to 7 took part in the programme with the school’s Environmental Group helping to facilitate learner involvement.
The learners also had an opportunity to explain why planting trees is important, showing that environmental education can start at a young age.
Growing a greener Kouga
The planting of 100 Spekboom contributes to a greener and more sustainable school environment while encouraging learners to become responsible custodians of their surroundings.
For Kouga Local Municipality, initiatives such as these are about more than commemorating Arbor Day. They provide an opportunity to work with communities, support schools and invest in environmental awareness for future generations.
The municipality thanks the teachers, the Pellsrus Primary School Environmental Group, the learners from Grades 1 to 7, and Akumila Thrive NGO for partnering with the municipality to make the initiative a success.
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