Stellenbosch Wineries to plant 1000 trees after storm devastation
The Stellenbosch wine routes are trying to rebuild after losing hundreds of trees to the Cape storm.
FILE: The picturesque vineyards and mountains of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. Picture: © Jon Bor/123rf
John Maytham speaks with Michael Ratcliffe, Chairman of Stellenbosch Wine Routes
Listen to the interview in the audio below.
The Wineries in Stellenbosch are renowned for their beautiful landscapes, with the oak trees being particularly important.
However, these landscapes were devastated by the recent intense storms.
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Over 200 trees were lost including Stellenbosch’s oldest tree, planted over 200 years ago.
“Stellenbosch has always been synonymous with Oak trees and losing the real granddaddy is a particular blow.”
- Michael Ratcliffe, Chairman of Stellenbosch Wine Routes
Wineries are launching a tree planting campaign with the goal of planting 1000 trees.
They plan to plant the Turkish, Pin, and Water Oak trees, an iconic feature in Stellenbosch.
Ratcliffe says they hope to plant these trees before Arbor Day in September.
This will go towards the goal of rewilding the entire Cape Wineland, he says.
“Ideally we would like to end the year with more trees in the ground than we started with.”
- Michael Ratcliffe, Chairman of Stellenbosch Wine Routes
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.