Rooted in Heritage
Why We Planted Fruit Trees This Heritage Day
We didn't just plant a tree. We planted an opportunity.
On 24 September 2026, Rally Business Consulting spent Heritage Day with shovels in hand at two community sites: Boschrand Primary School and Kingdom of God Christian Centre (KGCCI). By the end of the day, 50 fruit trees were in the ground.
It was our response to SAFCOL's invitation to support the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) greening initiative, part of the DFFE One Billion Trees drive and the Presidential Ten Million Trees Flagship Programme. But we wanted it to be more than a day out.
Answering the Call
Every Heritage Day, South Africans are encouraged to plant trees. The programme behind it aims to green urban, peri-urban and rural spaces, restore damaged land, ease the effects of climate change and support household food security.
On Heritage Day 2025, more than a million trees went into the ground across the country in a single day. SAFCOL planted 1 500 of them and pledged at least another 1 500 in 2026, inviting partners to donate trees, plant or mobilise support. We took up that invitation and chose to plant alongside community partners of our own.
We Started with a Question
Rather than arrive with trees and a fixed plan, we asked the school and the church one thing: what would make the biggest environmental difference here?
The answer was fruit trees. They give shade to spaces children and community members use every day. In time, they will give fruit to learners and congregants. And they give everyone a good reason to keep looking after them long after planting day.
That approach keeps the community's needs first and gives us a relationship we can return to and build on. It also ties back to where we come from, with roots in forestry and community development.
Many Hands
The planting brought together RBC staff, learners from our FP&M SETA silviculture and general forestry programmes, and members of both communities. For our forestry learners, it was a chance to put their training to work where it matters. For the Boschrand learners, it was hands-on exposure to tree care and a living lesson they can follow as the trees grow.
Who benefits
Boschrand Primary School: learners and staff will use the shade and fruit, and learners can track the trees' growth as part of their schooling.
KGCCI: members and the wider community served by the church's programmes.
Our team: direct involvement in a community project connected to our forestry background.
Because the trees bear fruit, the benefit grows every year.
Built to Last
A tree planted and forgotten is a wasted effort. Both sites have been shown how to water and care for their trees, and RBC will visit from time to time to check on progress. With fruit on the way, both communities have every reason to keep them thriving.
Thank You
Our thanks to SAFCOL, and in particular the ESD team, for the invitation to take part; to the educators and learners of Boschrand Primary School; to the leadership of Kingdom of God Christian Centre; and to every RBC team member who gave their time.
Heritage Day was the start. Two partnerships have taken root, and we look forward to watching them grow.
