[imagesource: Russel Nel]

In case you missed it, our friends at Greenpop hosted their 13th annual tree planting and environmental awareness event, Reforest Fest, at Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat this past Easter weekend.

Reforest Fest is Greenpop’s annual Restoration Celebration, where they join hands with people from all walks of life and ages to get active for the planet, immerse themselves in a harmonious blend of tree planting, wellness activities, wholesome and unique food experiences, and a celebration of nature.

Over 100 volunteer crew and just under 1,000 participants joined them from 29 March to 1 April 2024, resulting in one of the most lush and lively weekends of the season.

This eco-conscious festival is not only a gathering for personal well-being but also a collective effort to restore and rejuvenate our surrounding coastal thickets and afromontane forests in the Western Cape.

Tree Planting and Forest Restoration

Festival attendees of all ages united to plant 5,000 trees in the Uilenkraal Valley during this year’s Reforest Fest. Locally indigenous saplings found new homes along a meandering stream, on undulating slopes, and within pockets of open space amidst the existing woodland.

During the weekend, participants had the opportunity to embark on a guided forest walk led by Platbos Forest custodian, Francoise Krige. These immersive walks delved into the significance of rejuvenating these native forests, offering insight into their ecological importance.

Emphasising the critical role of these ecosystems, photographer and festival enthusiast, Callum Evans, captured a remarkable sighting of a Cape Leopard near the grounds of Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat, using a camera trap positioned within the forest.

 

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These elusive and endangered creatures epitomise the focus of Greenpop’s reforestation endeavours, aiming to safeguard and preserve their habitats. The act of tree planting serves as a conduit for forest regeneration, ultimately fostering conducive environments for the thriving of such species.

A weekend of fun for all ages

The festival grounds were abuzz with a variety of activities for all ages, across the weekend. These included live music from local artists, including Greenpop’s co-founder, Jeremy Loops.

A dedicated kids’ space, with fun and interactive games and workshops. A kiddies Easter Egg Hunt with Wellness Warehouse, and an Adult Treasure Hunt with ButtaNutt, which saw participants dashing across the festival grounds on a mission to find the treasures hidden along the way. Festival goers were also entertained by the comedic prowess of Rob van Vuuren, whose on-stage persona, Namaste Bae, had everyone in stitches with laughter.

Greenpop also hosted wine tastings at their conservation wine tent, with WWF’s Conservation Wines, where participants got the chance to taste and talk about the wines from the region, and the integral role sustainable wine farming plays for both the environment and shifting consumer behaviours. The Sunday afternoon of the festival saw guests coming through for a delectable chocolate, honey and wine pairing with Overberg Honey Co and Wellness Warehouse. Croutons were dipped in the golden liquid and chocolate melted, amidst sips of the red and white wines on display.

Guests enjoyed a range of unique food experiences, including a whimsical Veld & Sea Foraged Tapas Feast and flower crown-making workshop, and a Sunday Harvest Feast with Kolossal Hospitality, which was a celebration of the Overberg Region’s local and seasonal produce.

Treading lightly and supercharging change with MINI Electric

In a supercharged collaboration, MINI Electric SA’s Electric Collective joined forces with Reforest Fest for the first time, bringing their Big Love Stage to the festival.

What Is MINI’s Electric Collective:

“Just 3.5%. That’s all it takes to supercharge change. Our collective is inspired by a study suggesting that when just 3.5% of the population takes action, it never fails to bring about meaningful change. So that’s why we’re here: to solve the unsolvable. Together.”

MINI SA’s Big Love Stage – Catalysing Change

Fueled by a fervour for embracing positive change and exploring innovative ways to interact with the environment, MINI South Africa’s Electric Collective Big Love Stage at Reforest Fest hosted influential figures in the environmental realm, sharing their knowledge and expertise through a series of electrifying talks.

 

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The stage was moderated by Jeremy Loops and included talks from Roushanna Gray from Veld & Sea, Phumelele Muthali from Viva Con Agua, Gift Lubele from Kudoti, and Stephen Horn from Clean Creative SA. The topics covered included: sustainable food foraging, water scarcity and water rights issues, the circular economy, and how creatives can ditch the fossil fuel industry. Guests were transfixed as each speaker shared their expertise and personal experiences, making for an informative panel discussion that sparked conversation long after it had ended.

Treading lightly and getting creative with waste

Greenpop’s goal at Reforest Fest was to make the event as close to a zero-waste festival as possible, diverting almost half a tonne of waste produced at the festival (491kg) away from landfills and instead to local recycling systems. This was made possible through immersive education and a fantastic recycling team working around the clock.

MINI South Africa came on board with this mission and helped make the waste activation space at the event possible, where people learnt how to upcycle waste, properly recycle and dispose of waste, and get creative with product waste through interactive upcycling workshops. PETCO also sponsored clear bags, which participants could use to clear up any MOOP (matter out of place) or waste in the space.

Only one half-bag of MOOP was collected when the festival ended, a massive achievement for all who attended, and a testament to what is possible when we all do our part to tread lightly and be more conscious of our waste.

If you didn’t manage to go this year, there is always 2025 and beyond. Keep an eye out via the Reforest Fest and Greenpop social media platforms and websites.

[source:supplied]