Cape Town: The Recreation and Parks Department launched Arbor Month at Westridge Gardens, in Mitchells Plain. A ceremonial tree planting and awareness event was commemorated on Wednesday, Sept 03, 2025.
Reportedly, the event acknowledged staff from the Recreation and Parks Department who played central role in the greening efforts of the City of Cape Town.
The 2025 Arbor Month highlighted the Milkwood (Sideroxylon inerme), South Africa’s Tree of the Year. It is known for its resilience, longevity and heritage value, the Milkwood was celebrated through a symbolic tree planting and a guided walk that showcased the thriving Milkwoods, rooted in Westridge Gardens.
MMC for Community Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham said that the Arbor Month is all about planting new trees. It is about protecting and caring the trees that are already established.
Higham said that the Recreation and Parks Department distributed nearly 3000 trees, in past financial year, across the Cape Town. She thanked the nursery and greening teams for their hard work.
The Milkwood planting in Mitchells Plain is a symbolic reminder of the significance of nurturing urban forest of Cape Town for future generations.
Ward Councillor Ashley Potts said that the Westridge Gardens is a true community treasure. He said that Arbor Month provides them an opportunity to celebrate the local green spaces, raise awareness about the importance of tress and encourage residents to actively care for the environment around them.
Potts stated that together, they can make Mitchells Plain a greener and healthier place to live. The event also formed part of the Mayoral Beautification Project, with a Milkwood planted along Morgenster Road, as one of the key gateways for Mitchells Plain’s.
Councillor Higham further said that planting trees is the only way to start. It’s about ongoing care that ensures that tress grow tall and strong. Together, through daily actions and symbolic projects such Arbor Month, they can grow a greener, healthier Cape Town.