On the De Rust farm in Elgin, home of Paul Clüver Family Wines, a new indigenous forest is taking root as part of an initiative aimed at fostering both environmental and community sustainability. Over 340 endemic trees, including Yellowwood, Cape Chestnut, and Wild Olive, have been planted through a collaborative effort between the Paul Clüver family, the Fairtree Foundation, and Agrico, an irrigation specialist owned by the Andrag family—relatives of the Clüvers through Gertrude Clüver (née Andrag), the late mother of Dr. Paul Clüver.
The Fairtree Foundation contributed trees and funds to the De Rust Futura Academy, a primary and secondary school on the De Rust farm. Founded in 1957 by Gertrude Clüver to provide education for the children of local farm workers, the school now serves over 1,300 students from Grade 1 to Matric. In addition to academics, the school offers meals and a variety of extra-curricular activities. Agrico donated the irrigation equipment used to water the newly planted trees.
Paul Clüver Jnr, managing director of Paul Clüver Family Wines, shared that the project emerged from a casual campfire discussion between himself, Walter Andrag of Agrico, Fairtree group chairman André Malan, and Hendrik Pfaff from the Longmountain Trust. The conversation revolved around the importance of restoring indigenous ecosystems and ensuring long-term sustainability for people and communities through education.
“Fairtree had already planted indigenous forests in the Eastern Cape, and at De Rust, we have been consistently removing alien vegetation and replanting with native species,” says Clüver. “Over a bottle or two of Pinot Noir—Paul Clüver, of course—around the fire under the Karoo skies, we decided to put this idea into action. Fairtree would donate the trees to complement those my father, Dr. Paul Clüver, had already planted, and they also made a capital donation to the De Rust Futura Academy. My second cousin, Walter, generously offered to set up the irrigation system to give these trees the best possible start.”
Students from De Rust Futura Academy were invited to assist with the planting, making the project a hands-on educational experience. “Besides Fairtree’s donation, it is these children who, as future adults, will benefit from the beauty and environmental richness of this indigenous forest,” Clüver added.
Before the tree planting commenced near the Paul Clüver Amphitheatre—which is scheduled to reopen later this year after a COVID-19-related closure—André Malan from Fairtree highlighted the broader significance of natural sustainability and the impact of education on future generations.
“It’s all about roots,” Malan said. “The roots of these indigenous trees, which have lost ground to invasive species, and the roots of young minds who will one day contribute to their communities with pride and dignity through the education they receive. These Yellowwoods and Wild Olives may take longer to mature than the students at De Rust Futura Academy, but their planting represents the value of preparing future generations to thrive in a sustainable environment.”
