The Shire Eco Lodge and nursery focuses on sustainability

Rob Scott uses the Wood-Mizer to cut wood for his building and furniture projects and custom orders

Rob Scott, owner of Shire Eco Lodge near Stutterheim, says the curved shape of the chalets is unlike standard timber buildings and posed so many problems that it took over a year to complete the shell of the first lodge.

The design of the chalets takes its cue from nature. "I wanted the design of the chalets and their location on the margins of the indigenous Xholora forest to be a win-win for all", Rob explains.

Construction started in 2004, and the first chalet was up and running in 2008. The 20-acre Shire Eco Lodge and indigenous nursery is owned by entrepreneur Rob Scott and his family in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province.

Recalling scenes of the film version of the fertile vales of the shire in JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, the Shire Eco Lodge is home in the peaceful afro-montane forests of the Amatola mountain range. The rich trove of waterfalls, mountain streams, ancient yellowwood, stinkwood and lemonwood forests, surrounded by pockets of fynbos, leaves an indelible impression on visitors.

An inside view of a chalet built by Rob Scott

Rob Scott in his furniture factory — An inside view of a chalet built by Rob Scott

Lessons learnt

The curved A-frame timber chalets are uniquely designed and built. Rob recounts several obstacles they had to overcome because of inexperience. These included timber bending techniques, the value of bracing, bent timber breaking and bending glass windows.

"My father, Hamish, supplied the solution to the breaking problem. Laminating thin strips of wood together. This is a fascinating process and has, in fact, become an art. It worked well and is now used for other parts of the building's anatomy", explains Rob.

"Once all the laminated ribs are in place, the wall planks are fastened over them in layers, moving upwards as you go. Once the walls are complete, the roof ribs (about 50 laminated bow-shaped beams) are attached to them, giving the roof a curved shape and Asian-like appearance.

"It was then time to start the interior work, which also took time because all the walls, cupboards, etcetera had to be profiled in the curved shape of the walls. There was a new lesson every day. I became an electrician, plumber and painter in a few months."

Wood-Mizer

Rob's reliance on buying sawn timber from suppliers sparked the idea of getting a sawmill to produce sawn timber. It was further strengthened by the uncommon widths and thicknesses needed for the curved and bent components of the chalets.

He decided to invest in a Wood-Mizer LT15GO portable sawmill, which lets him move it to wherever it's needed to cut fallen hardwoods and invasive alien trees.

Some of the blocks, slabs and boards are sold as is. The bulk of the sawn wood goes to Rob's furniture workshop. It is supplemented with heavy, fine-grained spruce stringers sourced from Mercedes-Benz in nearby East London. He uses the wood to build custom furniture for his projects and discerning customers nationwide.

Shire Bulbs is an indigenous nursery selling bulbs, plants and trees across South Africa

Shire Bulbs nursery

A brief stint at a plant nursery during a gap year in the UK kindled Rob's passion for botany, laying the foundation for the start of Shire Bulbs in 2003.

The Shire Bulbs' initial successes quickly duplicated into further expansion, with the current bulb production site now comprising four shade houses and expansive open beds. It produces over 150 species of indigenous bulbs that are shipped to customers worldwide. The international acclaim is proof of Shire Bulbs' successes.

But it's about far more than the monetary value of bulbs for Rob. The business partners with Fruit and Trees for Africa, a Non-Profit Organisation that addresses food security, environmental sustainability, and greening.

"Many of the plants we grow are threatened, and so in addition to the conservation and protection of wild populations, we have prioritised the conservation of the rarer species through cultivation", he says.

Our guests get to experience this unique location to revitalise tired spirits. At the same time, The Shire and local communities benefit from tourists visiting and job opportunities created," Rob continues.

The unique chalets at the Shire Eco Lodge blend into the forms and shapes of their environment

The Shire Eco Lodge is in a peaceful valley near Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape — The unique chalets at the Shire Eco Lodge blend into the forms and shapes of their environment

Organic farming

Organic farming is another arm of Rob's vision to harness business as a tool for greater sustainability, community upliftment, and self-reliance. His mother, Monica, is his partner in this part of the business, which produces organic fruits, vegetables, and crops that are sold and delivered free to nearby communities that need fresh produce.

Sawdust and chips from the furniture shops are also used as animal bedding for Rob and Monica's geese and duck flocks, allowed to roam free to rid the crops of pests. The rest of the waste is sold to nearby farmers, who use it to improve the health and well-being of their animals.

"We have an abundance that we like to share with the community to ensure that they also benefit from our bounty," Rob says, smiling.

Weston Agricultural College wins the Forest Rehabilitation Challenge

The Weston Agricultural College boys celebrate their victory in the tree planting challenge at Ferncliffe forest

Husqvarna recently teamed up with a conservation NGO and two prominent KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) schools to host a Forest Rehabilitation Challenge in the Ferncliffe natural forest on the edge of Pietermaritzburg.

Ferncliffe is a beautiful mist belt forest that has been heavily invaded by alien vegetation that is becoming a significant threat to biodiversity.

The challenge involved learners from Durban High School (DHS) and Weston Agricultural College competing in a tree-planting race designed to raise awareness of the need for environmental stewardship and contribute to the restoration of the Ferncliffe forest at the same time.

"We were truly touched by the enthusiasm of DHS and Weston, who signed up despite the boys' busy schedules and approaching school holidays," said Timothy Isabirye, Husqvarna South Africa's Marketing Manager.

The Husqvarna team partnered with local conservation NGO Ferncliffe Forest Wilding to host the event.

"With our sales office in Pietermaritzburg, it was natural to give back to our immediate community", explained Timothy. "And our commitment to sustainability and local environmental protection aligned perfectly with NPO Ferncliffe Forest Wilding's mission, making them the perfect partner for this initiative".

Janine Stephen, a representative from Ferncliffe Forest Wilding, said, "We were really excited when Husqvarna approached us with the idea of the challenge. Collaborating with schools and businesses like Husqvarna to protect and restore endangered mist belt forest habitat is exactly the kind of community-driven action we need in a world where so much biodiversity is threatened".

Competitive fun

In an exhilarating race, boys from each school, armed with spades and gloves provided by Husqvarna, were tasked with digging 15 holes as quickly as possible. As expected, the competitive spirit was high. Still, focusing on making a positive difference in the environment stayed at the top of everyone's mind.

In the end, it was Weston Agricultural College that emerged victorious. They earned bragging rights and a Husqvarna battery-operated leaf blower worth R10,000, including accessories for their school and a trophy to celebrate their achievement.

The DHS boys who participated in the tree planting challenge

DHS didn't go home empty-handed. They were rewarded with a R5,000 e-commerce voucher to use on the Husqvarna South Africa website. Participating learners also received a certificate recognising their contribution to this impactful initiative.

Fantastic opportunity

"This challenge was a fantastic opportunity for our learners to step up and contribute to something greater," said Barry Coskey, DHS Head of Marketing and Admissions. "At DHS, we aim to develop responsible, motivated young men with strong moral convictions, and today, they truly embodied those values".

Amber Pollock, Head of Marketing for Weston, said, "At Weston, we love embracing challenges, particularly those safeguarding our environment. We also strive to instil a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility in our learners, and this initiative provided an excellent opportunity for them to rise to the occasion."

The event has laid the foundation for what is hoped to become an annual event, expanding its reach and impact in the coming years. "This is just the beginning. We're committed to making this challenge an annual celebration where schools come together to compete and create real, lasting environmental change," Timothy concluded.

The Husqvarna Schools Forest Rehabilitation Challenge is part of the brand's sustainability and community engagement commitment.

Profit pointers for wattle growers

Open for business. Rob Thompson delivered the good news that NCT's Richards Bay mill are back up and running just over a year after the devastating fires that stopped their chipping and export operations.

A recent wattle field day organised by NCT Forestry provided an ideal opportunity for local tree farmers to pick up some pointers from the wattle “experts” who have been working with wattle for decades. The field day was hosted on Elands Farm near New Hanover in the KZN midlands, owned by Terry Wolhuter.

Chris Chapman reports that the key takeaways from the field day were:

NCT’s woodchip export operation at the port of Richards Bay is back up and running after the devastating fire destroyed the facility just over a year ago. The demand for wood chips is strong, and green and black wattle timber are among the preferred species by international customers.

The demand for wattle bark is strong, preferably fresh bark stripped from mature black wattle and delivered on the same day. UCL and NTE are starting to accept limited quantities of green wattle bark. Wattle farmers in the Eastern Cape have also been supplying dry stick bark to NTE, adding value to their crops. The wattle bark extracts are used to make tannins and adhesives for softening leather.

Black wattle: Advances in tree breeding have developed several black wattle clones showing promising results for improved form and growth, as well as wattle rust tolerance and frost tolerance. Although wattle clonal development is still relatively early, there are clones available that will give growers improved performance over seedlings if well managed and planted in the right sites.

Green wattle (A. decurrens) is a good option on some sites. It is more adaptable to a wide range of climatic conditions, is more tolerant of critical pests, the bark strips in the winter months, and produces more useable timber than black wattle. Although it produces less bark than black wattle, the bark factories accept limited quantities. The ICFR is ramping up a green wattle tree improvement programme, and NCT is planting it to replace some eucalypts on their farms.

Growing wattle is not so simple. Get the basics right, like planting the right seedling or clone for the site, prepare good, uniform pits (25cm x 25cm), plant with water/gel in the rainy season, keep it weed-free for a year, do careful pruning and thinning – and you will reap the rewards.

Friedel Eggers of UCL urges foresters to plant the best black wattle clones on the right sites to reap the benefits of good bark and timber yield

Pruning: Friedel Eggers of UCL advises pruning before the trees reach two metres. Use a skilled team with sharp secateurs or bow saws (not axes). Remove competing double leaders and dominating side branches with clean cuts. Be careful not to tear the bark while pruning. Do not over-prune.

Blanking: Wattle grows fast. You must blank within three weeks of planting if the mortality of clones is above 10% or above 15% in the case of seedlings.

ROI: The rule of thumb among foresters is that wattle bark sales should cover the cost of the harvesting operation. In contrast, the timber sales deliver the profit.

The Forestry & Agriculture Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria has a diagnostic clinic to help identify pests and diseases affecting wattle. This is a free service for members of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP).

On a mission to protect and conserve South Africa’s medicinal plants

By Joy Crane

Dr Nicky Jones inspecting Warburgia plants at the Sappi Shaw Research Centre nursery. Pic by Sappi

Indigenous trees, their stems partially or entirely stripped of their bark and left to die in Cape Town's Newlands Forest and areas like the upper reaches of the iconic Kirstenbosch Garden, is a sad sight that greets walkers and hikers all too often.

Organisations like Friends of Table Mountains and Newlands Forest Conservation have joined forces with other community groups, companies, media, citizen scientists and the South African National Parks to educate traditional healers about sustainable bark stripping.

Sappi says the traditional medicine trade in South Africa is a significant industry, valued at R2.9 billion annually and accounting for 5.6% of the national health budget. It supports 27 million consumers and provides a livelihood for at least 133,000 people, many of whom are rural women.

DESTRUCTIVE HARVESTING

However, the trade is at risk due to the unsustainable harvesting, often illegally, of indigenous plant material from South Africa's national parks like Newlands, important conservation corridors maintained by forestry companies, and elsewhere involving around 771 species.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 80% of people in Africa use traditional medicine, and over 82% of urban and rural black South Africans rely on these practices.

The report "Economics of the Traditional Medicine Trade in South Africa" (Mander, M; Ntuli, L; Diederichs, N; Mavundle, K) underscores the urgent need to protect tree species used for medicinal purposes. Popular species are becoming locally extinct and are being traded at high prices, raising serious concerns about the future of the traditional medicine trade and its benefits.

SAPPI RTES

In KwaZulu-Natal, the Sappi Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species (RTES) Programme contributes to conservation efforts.

"By raising awareness about the importance of protecting medicinal plants and the environment, Sappi aims to promote a culture of conservation and sustainability", comments Giovanni Sale, Sustainability Manager, Sappi Southern Africa.

The RTES Programme focuses on species identified by scientific methods and organisations like the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), ensuring these species, especially those used in traditional medicine, are protected from unsustainable harvesting.

PEPPERBARK PROJECT

The Sappi RTES Programme, initiated in 2013, initially focused on the Warburgia salutaris (Pepperbark) project near the western borders of the Kruger National Park (KNP). At that time, the situation was so dire that a grove of these trees in KNP had to be protected by armed guards to protect them from muti poachers.

Traditional Healers Workshop in Kwazulu Natal. Pic supplied by Sappi

Since 2015, the KNP and its partners have distributed 85,000 Warburgia salutaris trees, starting with just 40 in the first year. Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife and its partners have distributed 25,000 trees since 2019, achieving an 85% survival rate for the trees planted and monitored by distribution agencies.

Giovanni says the programme adopts a team approach, working with recognised experts, including social ecologists mandated by government legislation, who work directly with traditional healers and their communities. This collaboration makes the extension of the project a natural fit.

"The Sappi Shaw Forestry Research Centre is proud to play an instrumental role in developing new methods to secure better germination and propagation of the Pepper-bark tree. Due to the programme's success, we are extending that support, and other species have been identified for phase two of the project", said Giovanni.

AFRICAN CHERRY, BLACK STINKWOOD AND ASSEGAI TREES

The programme is being extended to include Prunus africana (African Cherry), Ocotea bullata (Black Stinkwood), Vachellia xanthophloea (Fever Tree), and Curtisia dentata (Assegai Tree). The Sappi Shaw research team is conducting trials on African cherry, black stinkwood, and the assegai tree.

Sappi has extended its research in medicinal trees at its research nursery. Pic by Joy Crane

Other partnerships and collaborations within the programme include academic institutions, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) nursery, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in Mbombela, and national and regional parks like KNP and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

Willem Boshoff, a founder of Newlands Forest Conservation, says Cape beech, Cape holly, assegai, stinkwood, wild peach, red alder, hard pear and other trees are targeted by strippers.

SUSTAINABLE HARVESTING

In an interview with Don Pinnock of Daily Maverick in February, Willem said, "There are two dynamics involved. One is access to traditional medicine that may be cheaper, the other is traditional beliefs.

"Becoming critical of a cultural practice is very sensitive terrain. We're not critical of a practice that has been going on for centuries, we are critical about it being done in a completely unsustainable manner, and then going from unsustainable to extremely destructive. For some, it's simply a commercial criminal enterprise".

Stripped of their bark and waiting to die. Pic by Willem Boshoff and Daily Maverick

Bark stripping in Newlands Forest. Pic by Friends of Newlands Forest — Stripped of their bark and waiting to die. Pic by Willem Boshoff and Daily Maverick

Willem told Don they found a solution in Newlands: to paint the trees with diluted PVA. Protecting these species is vital for ensuring that medicinal plants can be used sustainably for future generations while maintaining biodiversity.

Sources: Sappi press release and Don Pinnock's article "A conversation with the man who paints trees to combat bark stripping", in Daily Maverick 25 Feb 2024.

Eastern Cape tree farmers cash in on wattle bark sales

By Lwazi Ngqwebo (NCT) and Eza Mapipa (NTE)

Eastern Cape farmer Murray Elliott red cap), NCT forester Lwazi Ngqwebo and the harvesting team with a bundle of wattle stick bark

NCT members in the Eastern Cape have seized the opportunity created by the current demand for wattle bark to utilise their timber resources more effectively.

The devastating fire that damaged infrastructure at NCT’s Richards Bay mill in September last year was a significant blow to the South African wattle industry. Wattle growers were forced to cut back on their harvesting plans because of the NCT mill’s reduced capacity to receive and chip timber.

NCT's Lwazi Ngqwebo shows the harvesting team how to bundle and tie stick bark for delivery — Good quality, mature stick bark

This inevitably impacted the wattle bark industry, which faced a reduction in the volume of bark delivered to the bark factories. But every storm cloud has a silver lining.

In the past, NCT members in the Eastern Cape would discard bark with the rest of the harvesting residue. Now they have found a way to supply stick bark to the NTE Hermannsburg Factory, with the support of NCT and NTE. This provides them with an additional source of revenue for their forest enterprises.

While multiple challenges associated with the transportation of forest raw material (timber and wattle bark) from the Eastern Cape province into Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) for primary processing are evergreen, enthusiastic NCT members from the Stutterheim, Komga and Elliot areas have pioneered a tough journey with bravery and success.

A well-presented load of wattle bark leaving Komga in the Eastern Cape for the 500km drive to the NTE factory in Hermannsburg, KZN — Eastern Cape farmer Murray Elliott red cap), NCT forester Lwazi Ngqwebo and the harvesting team with a bundle of wattle stick bark

Covering an average one-way distance of 550km from the loading site to the factory, these passionate growers are the first NCT members to deliver stick bark to NTE in the 2023/2024 season.

Eastern Cape farmer Murray Elliott said he is happy to help support the wattle bark Industry and is excited about being one of the first wattle growers to deliver stick bark from the Eastern Cape. Selling the bark adds significant financial value to the cash flow of wattle growers.

The NTE factory management was reported to be satisfied with the quality and presentation of the stick bark from the Eastern Cape. These growers are certainly trendsetters, and what they have achieved marks the beginning of a promising future for wattle growers in the province.

It is expected that more NCT members will be inspired by the wattle bark champions of the Eastern Cape and will follow them. Forestry is a long-term investment, and what cannot be ignored is that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

With positive cash flow benefits being realised by members from this initiative, there is a solid intention to convert self-seeded wattle plantations into managed stands, providing better harvest yields in timber and bark.

Eza Mapipa of NTE (right) discusses wattle harvesting with Eastern Cape farmer Murray Elliott

De-barked wattle destined for NCT's Durban chipping factory — Eza Mapipa of NTE (right) discusses wattle harvesting with Eastern Cape farmer Murray Elliott

The Eastern Cape is a greenfield opportunity that has the potential to attract forestry investments. Land is an abundant natural resource in the province, with minimal alternative economic opportunities.

NCT and NTE representatives believe that large-scale forestry development in the province is long overdue, and the potential for selling wattle stick bark provides an added incentive.

The Eastern Cape farmers have delivered four loads of stick bark to date, and another three loads are currently in the drying sheds, where they will stay for eight weeks before they are despatched to the bark factory. Although the factories continue to prioritise fresh, same-day bark, they are equally happy to accept stick bark from further afield if it is properly harvested, dried and bundled.

The innovative Eastern Cape farmers are utilising their trucks for the 500km journey to the factory. They are making it worthwhile by securing return loads.

Another benefit of this initiative is that the wattle harvesting and bark stripping operations are done by hand. It is labour-intensive work that is helping to create much-needed jobs in the region.

Source: This article was first published in NCT’s News & Views magazine (September 2024) and was edited by Chris Chapman.

SP, TimberPro harvesting equipment demo impresses

*Checking out the big SP 761LF head, attached to a TimberPro TL 725D tracked, levelling harvester.*

A forwarder carrying a 20-ton plus load of pine logs down a 50% slope drew gasps from a group of experienced foresters and harvesting contractors attending a field day in the KZN midlands recently.

The forwarder was a TimberPro TF 840D, distributed and supported in South Africa by Zululand-based Logmech. The occasion was a field day hosted by Logmech on Sappi’s Clan plantation in the KZN midlands, the highlight of which was this demonstration of the TimberPro forwarder’s supreme power and balance.

When the highly skilled and experienced forwarder operator, Enoch Mthembu, stepped out of the vehicle having safely brought the load to roadside at the bottom of the slope, the foresters and contractors in attendance broke out in spontaneous applause. Enoch was clearly surprised by this reaction, as working in such steep terrain is all in a day’s work for him.

*The forwarder confidently approaches the steepest part of the slope, with a 20 to 22 ton load on board.*

*Spontaneous applause greeted the forwarder operator, Enoch Mthembu, who brought the load safely to the extraction road.*

Sappi Clan is located on the edge of the Karkloof escarpment with a lot of steep slopes, providing the mechanised harvesting team with plenty of challenges. It also provided an ideal location for Logmech to demonstrate the flagship logging equipment in their stable, namely the TimberPro forwarders and harvesters, SP Maskiner heads and their own Logmech grabs.

The day started with a static display showcasing the iconic red SP heads that are well known in South African forestry, and the MF42 and big MF86 grabs which the Logmech engineering team has developed specifically for the African market.

Also on display was Oregon equipment including saw chains, guide bars and sprockets.

The first stop was the TimberPro forwarder doing its thing on a ridiculously steep slope that did not look do-able. But the TimberPro forwarder, with a load of around 20 to 22 tonnes of pine logs on board, handled it with apparent ease with experienced operator Enoch Mthembu at the controls. A set of chains on the bunk wheels provided extra traction.

*Foresters and contractors at the field day give the TimberPro forwarder the once-over. Note the wide bunk which gives the forwarder a low centre of gravity, maximising stability.*

This demo should come with a cautionary advisory: don’t try this unless you have a machine like the TimberPro and an operator with the skill and experience of Enoch!

Next up was a demo by a tracked, levelling, purpose-built TimberPro harvester TL 725D, equipped with a big SP 761LF head. It operated efficiently on a steepish slope, felling, de-limbing and cross-cutting some pretty big pine trees with speed and precision.

Then it was on to a flatter compartment where the iconic SP 591LX, attached to a Hitachi excavator, was put through its paces. As Anders Gannerud of Swedish manufacturers SP explained, the 591LX is the head that put them on the map. It was developed in close collaboration with the Logmech team over many years, and is perfectly adapted to conditions in southern Africa. Productive, easy to maintain and tough as nails, the 591 has proved its worth and is now also widely used in some of the vast Eucalyptus plantations of South America.

SP 591LX head attached to a Hitachi excavator harvesting pine in the Karkloof.

Logmech’s Leon van Eeden said that the company has been operating in South Africa for 23 years, and they have been distributing and supporting SP heads since the very beginning. They carry a huge spare parts inventory, they know the heads inside out and are able to provide the back-up to ensure they keep working productively for thousands and thousands of hours. Logmech has sold 140 SP heads in the region to date.

They are also sole distributors in South Africa of the highly versatile TimberPro range of machines which include wheeled and tracked harvesters, feller bunchers and forwarders. The TimberPro’s are manufactured in the USA and are renowned for their durability, productivity and power. They are relatively simple machines to operate, are easy to maintain and are therefore well suited to rugged African conditions.

*Leon van Eeden of Logmech (right) provides info on the SP heads.*

The TimberPro’s come standard with 360° continuous rotation, allowing the operator to work effectively all around the machine. They are highly versatile and can be used as combo machines as they are equipped with a quick detached boom to allow conversion from a forwarder to a harvester.

The Logmech team has also launched a range of grabs which they have developed in partnership with an international manufacturer.

The field day was well attended by leading contractors and technical foresters who expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to see the harvesting equipment in action.

For more info on Logmech, TimberPro and SP heads in South Africa, visit www.logmech.co.za

*The TimberPro harvester doing the business in the Karkloof.*

Anders Gannerud of SP Maskiner, the Swedish manufacturers of the SP heads, explains the ins and outs of the 4th generation SP 591LX that has been developed in close collaboration with the Logmech team.

*The SP 591LX, attached to a Hitachi excavator, churning out cut-to-length pine logs.*

*Cut-to-length pine logs harvested by the SP 591LX.*

*The TimberPro forwarder loads up at the top of the slope.*

Vergelegen plants trees for tomorrow

Vergelegen Wine Estate, a Western Cape heritage site in Somerset West, is renowned for multiple sustainability initiatives, and during Arbor Week, staff from all divisions, from pastry chefs to vineyard workers, gathered to plant 200 trees.

The estate is committed to planting 1000 trees yearly in the vast 54-hectare arboretum, gardens, and other areas where fallen trees need to be replaced.

Ricardo Soetsenberg from the vineyard team

Nature is in a constant state of flux. Several of Vergelegen’s trees – despite considerable research, investment and collaboration with leading universities and tree experts – have been lost due to the destructive polyphagous shot hole borer beetle.

In addition, the estate is in an area prone to strong winds. An intense low-pressure system in April led to gale-force winds, which toppled 120 large trees in the 60-hectare cultural heritage area.

Vergelegen gardens manager Richard Arm selected resilient species for the Arbor Week planting. These included South Africa’s national tree, real yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius), milkwood (Sideroxylon inerme), water oak (Quercus nigra) and turkey oak (Quercus cerris).

Vergelegen's Dorothea Willemse from the wine tasting centre and Carlo Jackson from the gardens team rooting for the future

Vergelegen has planted 626 trees this year, and Arm is confident that the target will be surpassed. He says some of the estate’s trees go back centuries, like an Outeniqua yellowwood, a hollow old English oak, an ancient white mulberry, and five enormous camphor trees in front of the homestead, which were proclaimed national monuments in 1942.