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Spades in hand, school colours proudly worn and determination written on their faces, 40 boys from four KwaZulu-Natal schools descended on Ferncliffe Forest for the second annual Husqvarna Schools Forest Rehabilitation Challenge.
What began in 2024 as a pilot between Weston Agricultural College and Durban High School has already doubled in size. This year, both schools returned, joined by Maritzburg College and Westville Boys’ High School, in a competition where teamwork and endurance mattered as much as speed.
A race with roots
In partnership with non-profit organisation Ferncliffe Forest Wilding, the challenge tested each team’s ability to dig ten planting holes across three stations in the threatened mistbelt forest — while working together and protecting the environment around them.
The event opened with an environmental briefing by Husqvarna veld management specialist Divan Vermaak before the boys set off, equipped with spades, gloves, and maps. Rules required teams to stay together, complete each stage fully, and tread carefully to safeguard fragile indigenous plants.
The champions
After an afternoon of spirited effort, Maritzburg College took top honours, securing the trophy and a Husqvarna PW 480 Pressure Washer valued at R11,700. Weston Agricultural College, last year’s champions, finished second, followed by Durban High School in third and Westville Boys’ High School in fourth.
Each runner-up school received Husqvarna online store vouchers, while all participants were recognised with certificates for their contribution.
More than a competition
For Husqvarna South Africa, the challenge is about long-term impact. Marketing Manager Timothy Isabirye emphasised the event’s steady growth:
“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.”
He added that the challenge is less about winning and more about instilling stewardship:
“It’s about planting the idea of responsibility. When you protect the environment, you are protecting your own future.”
Held during Arbour Week, the Husqvarna Schools Forest Rehabilitation Challenge not only delivered spirited competition but also underscored the role of young people in shaping a greener, more sustainable South Africa.
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