Despite the crisp winter air, 20 enthusiastic volunteers arrived ready to get their hands dirty. Armed with spades, stakes, and tree tubes, the group wasted no time getting stuck in. The plan was ambitious—1,350 trees to plant in a single day—but the energy and teamwork displayed by everyone involved made it a resounding success.

Rather than waiting for direction, the community took ownership of the project, organising themselves into efficient planting teams. Some focused on digging, others on staking and tubing, ensuring that every tree had the best possible start. Usually, we distribute trees one at a time to prevent the roots from drying out, but the volunteers worked so swiftly and seamlessly that we had to adjust our approach—bundling trees together just to keep up with the pace!