Almost 100 trees part of a planting project for the elephants and conservationists at HERD are growing wonderfully and have planted a special message for all of us:
Hoedspruit, South Africa (16 November 2023) — Where there are growing trees, there is life unfolding. And, for the conservationists, part of the Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development’s (HERD) mission to give wildlife its best chance, 75 young, planted trees with a special story symbolise exactly this.
Last year, HERD was gifted a donation and as such, was able to purchase an array of indigenous trees thanks to NPO, The Perfect World Foundation (TPWF), which supports wildlife organisations and grassroots projects all over the world.
TPWF’s big mission is to plant as many seeds of change as possible so that the world flowers with wildlife that is protected and able to flourish—from oceans in Cairns Australia to the plains of Hoedspruit.
And quite literally in the case of HERD’s planted trees project, these seeds of change have already come a long, tangible way!
As South Africa’s first dedicated elephant orphanage that rescues and rehabilitates gentle giants like baby Khanyisa, the little things can grow a long way.
In a year, the 75 planted trees have begun to grow across the reserve, close to the elephant’s homestead and at the Mpisi Primary School nearby.
The Monkey Thorn, Marula, Huilboerboonboom, Cheeswood, Huolboom and Bruin Ivoor trees have been the subject of much excitement for the team, students and elephants. Recently, HERD shared that the trees have held their own throughout the dry season, and some are already said to be taller than the conservation students.
The tree planting project is a reminder for all of us not to discount the little things because in the right conditions, they can grow to become beautiful spectacles—just like HERD itself.