The City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department has started planting 150 trees, which were received as a donation from the Indian Consulate to commemorate the 150th celebration of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien and the Consul General of India in Cape Town, Abhishek Shukla, attended the event.

Commemorative events are being held in memory of Mahatma Gandhi’s extraordinary life, around the world and in Cape Town. The City received a generous donation of 150 trees and has started planting them at Arderne Gardens as part of National Arbor Month activities that will be taking place throughout September.

‘This donation for the establishment of a garden in memory of Mahatma Gandhi is to remember what he stood for. He was an avid activist for environmental protection and cautioned mankind against unrestricted industrialism and materialism. He believed that the earth had sufficient resources for every man’s need, but not every man’s greed,” said Consulate General Shukla.

Arderne Gardens in Claremont is a popular destination for wedding photos due to its lush greenery and unique collection of exotic trees. There is currently a Japanese section of the garden, and the trees donated by the Indian Consulate will be used to create an Indian section.

The project will take up to a month to complete and will be managed by the Recreation and Parks Department. Among the first trees planted at the ground breaking ceremony today were five Delonix regia and 35 Rhaphiolepsis Indica.

The official opening ceremony is scheduled to take place on 2 October, which is Mahatma Gandhi’s actual birth date. A plaque with information about the establishment of this garden, will also be unveiled at the official ceremony.