Husqvarna Schools Forest Rehabilitation Challenge: A celebration of teamwork and conservation

With spades in hand, school colours worn with pride, and determination etched across their faces, 40 boys from four of KwaZulu-Natal’s top schools came together at Ferncliffe Forest, Pietermaritzburg, for the second annual Husqvarna Schools Forest Rehabilitation Challenge.

Husqvarna, an outdoor power products manufacturer in collaboration with Ferncliffe Forest Wilding, a non-profit organisation dedicated to conservation, staged the competition. The challenge for the teams was to dig ten planting holes in specific locations in the threatened mistbelt forest, requiring the boys to use maps and clues given to determine the tree-planting positions.

Once they tracked the spots, holes measuring 40 centimetres wide and deep had to be dug before planting saplings that were indigenous to the area.

This year’s competition, which coincided with the celebration of Arbour Week, saw Maritzburg College finish first with their display of teamwork and commitment to environmental stewardship in completing the assignment handed to the teams.

The initiative began as a humble pilot event last year, involving Weston Agricultural College and Durban High School. The demand and excitement generated in 2024 led to the inclusion of Maritzburg College and Westville Boys’ High School in this year's event. The format challenged teams not only on speed but also on their ability to work harmoniously while respecting the ecologically fragile environment surrounding them.

Before the teams could begin digging and planting, Husqvarna's veld management specialist, Divan Vermaak, delivered an informative environmental lesson for the boys' benefit, which loosened the soil ahead of the task they would get stuck into.

Each team was given spades, gloves, and maps to navigate their way through the course while adhering to rules aimed at protecting the indigenous flora. This exercise taught them the importance of teamwork and persistence as they completed each of the three sections in unison, all while treading carefully so as not to harm the forest's delicate ecosystem.

For their superior efforts, Maritzburg College received a trophy and a Husqvarna PW 480 Pressure Washer valued at R11 700. Defending champions Weston Agricultural College claimed second place, while Durban High School and Westville Boys’ High School followed closely in third and fourth places, respectively. Each of the runner-up schools received vouchers for Husqvarna’s online store, and all the boys received participation certificates.

Timothy Isabirye, marketing manager at Husqvarna South Africa, expressed his appreciation for the event's growth and success.

“Last year was about testing the concept. This year, we doubled the number of schools involved. Next year, our ambition is to grow again. The point is that every year, the impact becomes greater. More schools, more boys, more trees in the ground, and more young people learning what it means to give back to their environment,” Isabirye said.

He was especially pleased with the boys’ dedication: “It’s not just about winning on the day; it’s about planting the idea of stewardship. Our goal is to teach the boys that when you protect the environment, you are protecting your own future.”

DAILY NEWS