In a celebration of Arbour Month, five schools from KwaZulu-Natal came together at Greenheart Organics for the 2026 Husqvarna South Africa Schools Challenge. The event, hosted in partnership with Food and Trees for Africa, saw teams from Durban High School, Weston Agricultural College, Glenwood High School, Westville Boys’ High School, and Hillcrest High School compete in a series of challenges designed to test their teamwork, speed, efficiency, and tree-planting skills.
The challenge has grown significantly since its inception in 2024 as a contest between Durban High School and Weston Agricultural College. This year, the competition involved the full planting process, from digging and adding compost to planting, mulching, and watering. The additional tasks required more coordination and care from each team, making the event more demanding and rewarding.
The objective of the challenge went beyond school honors, providing learners with a practical opportunity to contribute to their community while learning essential skills in tree planting and care. Each participating school also received a fruit tree to plant on its grounds, allowing pupils to apply their new skills beyond the competition.
Weston Agricultural College emerged as the 2026 champion, winning a Husqvarna blower and a R5,000 voucher to redeem at Husqvarna’s online store. Durban High School secured second place and a R5,000 voucher, while Hillcrest High School finished third and received a R2,500 voucher.
Kathy Boast, a teacher at Weston Agricultural College, expressed pride in her team’s achievement, highlighting their exceptional teamwork and dedication to the challenge. The event’s evolution reflects Husqvarna South Africa’s desire to make its annual Arbour Month initiative more meaningful and impactful.
Husqvarna South Africa marketing manager, Timothy Isabirye, emphasized the importance of the partnership with Food and Trees for Africa, connecting the event to an organization that works across South Africa through tree-planting, food-security, and environmental programs. The fruit trees planted during the challenge aim to benefit the community, with ongoing care and maintenance being crucial to their success.
The event concluded on a positive note, with pupils leaving proud of their accomplishments and equipped with new practical skills and an understanding of their role in contributing to a better environment. The challenge served as a valuable learning experience, promoting teamwork, environmental awareness, and community engagement among the participating schools.
Key points
- Weston Agricultural College won the 2026 Husqvarna South Africa Schools Challenge.
- The event promoted teamwork, environmental awareness, and community engagement among the participating schools.
- Each participating school received a fruit tree to plant on its grounds.
