The Historic Centre's Plant an Oak Project

Stellenbosch’s historic centre is renowned for its graceful oak trees, which have lined streets and shaded historic buildings since the late 1600s. This iconic landscape feature is now under threat of an invasive beetle that attacks large trees, particularly vulnerable English oaks.

In response, Stellenbosch Municipality, as custodian of this heritage, has launched the Plant an Oak project in partnership with concerned residents, Stellenbosch University scientists, and a dedicated project team. This initiative aims to combat the PSHB beetle’s impact through protection, removal and strategic replanting.

The project’s key objectives include:

• Enhancing the resilience of remaining trees via better nutrition and care.
• Safely removing dead trees, following protocols from Heritage Western Cape and the Municipality.
• Replanting at least 30 new oak trees in 2026 (with ongoing efforts until control is achieved).
• Providing three years of dedicated maintenance for new plantings, including soil preparation, watering, supports and BioBarrier root control systems.
• Encouraging community participation through donations and personalised name plaques on sponsored trees.

Stellenbosch Municipality handles critical infrastructure:

• Identifying and obtaining approvals for tree removals.
• Pruning/felling infected trees and stump removal.
• Preparing planting pits, installing BioBarrier systems, support stakes and permeable paving.

The project team (Francé Beyers, Liesl van der Walt, Ernst Gouws from STF and Siobhan Meyer) manages:

• Fundraising via the Stellenbosch Trail Fund NPC (with funds ring-fenced for the project).
• Sourcing healthy specimens (~3m tall, 200–500-litre containers).
• Coordinating plaques, supports and collaboration with the Municipality.

A donation of R25,000 is required to sponsor a new tree. This covers the cost of purchase, delivery, soil preparation, feeding, planting, installation of support structures and nameplates with donor information, as well as the replacement of trees which do not survive the transplanting process.

Please make your donation via an EFT payment into the bank account below and send your proof of payment to ernst@stellenboschtrailfund.co.za.

Bank: Investec Bank Limited
Account Name: Stellenbosch Trail Fund
Branch Code: 580105
Account Number: 10012005483
Account Type: Cheque

Please note that 18A tax certificates cannot be issued for these donations.