Municipal officials gathered at Stellenbosch Town Hall to mark the beginning of Arbor Week by planting a Pin Oak, which also symbolised a celebration of the town’s heritage as the City of Oaks during Heritage Month. During the event, Professor Ben du Toit (pictured) of the Department of Forest and Wood Science at Stellenbosch University spoke about caring for trees and dismissed the notion that exotic trees should always be avoided. Saying to plant indigenous trees is a great option, but planting non-invasive exotic trees such as a Pin Oak provides shade, cleans our water supply, attracts wildlife, produces oxygen.
