Green Futures | Grootbos Foundation

It was the Grootbos Foundation’s priviledge to host Kevin Austin from the Eden Project in Cornwall from the 15th of November to the 15th of December 2010!

The Grootbos Foundation has had a partnership agreement with the Eden Project (www.edenproject.com) for the last five years whereby Eden funds an opportunity for three of our top three Green Futures’ students and one staff member to visit and experience Eden each year.

Kevin has written us this very nice thank you letter that we would like to share with you!

A warm thank you to everyone at Grootbos who helped to make my trip to South Africa so enjoyable and inspiring. Particular thanks too Sean, Micheal and the Eden Project for allowing these valuable exchanges to take place, especially during these times of reccession. Also, special thanks too Susan, Jaco, Johan, Sharlene and Viola for their support and friendship,and it was lovely to meet some of the past students who have been to Eden.

The work achieved by Jaco and the team at Growing the Future is a credit to them and the Foundation, all under very challenging conditions. The pests and climatic conditions are a test to the plants and people alike, in the UK we moan about slugs, caterpillars and rain; you have the snakes, baboons, tortoises and huge moles to name a few, and of course the persistant eroding wind to contend with. I feel I have gained a much closer understanding of how the Green Futures and Growing the Future models work and will follow with great interest there continued development.

Had a fantastic time on the Table Mountain visit and Shark cage diving, thanks once again.

May the sun keep shining, the rains come when needed and the winds to stay moderate!

Until we meet again.

Happy 2011 to all(including Lucy!)

Kevin

The Grootbos Foundation would like to thank Kevin for his kind words and the Eden Project for their ongoing support of our projects! We are glad that he left such a good impression!

Every year Hermanus’ population swells enormously as people flock to the town for the annual Whale Festival. As impressive as the show put on by the mammoth sea mammals, is the Fernkloof Flower Show, which is an explosion of colour and virbrance, showcasing the beauty of the Capes flora. Local nurseries, landscapers and societies take stands at the show, and put up displays to demontrate their skills and wares.

At Green Futures we use this opportunity to give the students a chance to use a bit of their creativity and teamwork to build a stand showing what they are made of. Its a fun time for the whole college, and excitement builds for weeks!

This years class decided to do a display showing how to “make do with what youve got”, and built a mock township shack, complete with fence and garden path. Beautiful fynbos from the Green Futures Nursery was used to fill tyres and old wheelbarrows, creating a stunning little garden full of lovely colour and fragrances that would attract a myriad of nectar loving birds.

Students at their stand

The students man the stand for the duration of the show, and its a great opportunity for them to interact with interested people, and let people know about their experience at Green Futures.