#platbos

The virtual lockdown adventures of Ollie the Owl 1

Today I start with a series of composites featuring Ollie the Owl. Part 1: Ollie’s virtual visit to Platbos Forest (Southernmost ancient forest in South Africa)

By Victoria Annich, Greenpop Communications Intern

It has not even been two weeks since the Greenpop Reforest Fest ended and we already feel like grabbing our tents and shovels and heading back to the magical place that is the Platbos Forest! Both festival weekends were filled with great music, loads of activities, massive tree planting action and the experience to (re)connect with people and nature.

Photo credit: http://millefoto.com/

Enjoy

On both weekends we offered a variety of activities to relax, have fun and simply enjoy the experience. While some were finding their inner balance at Family Yoga with Just B or trying out their acrobatic skills at AcroYoga, others were busy jamming on the drums or attending the creative workshops - there was something there for everyone!

But the fun didn't end there - all kinds of performances awaited the Festival-goers at night. After enjoying a bite at our vegan- and vegetarian- friendly food court they were invited to spend the evening listening to the lilting folk rhythms of Jeremy Loops, the afro-pop and blues of Warongx and some indie-folk-electro music from Majozi. The ones who weren't too tired from planting the whole day were dancing all night long to the tunes of Ernestine Deane, Crimson House Collaboration, Touchwood, Paige Mac, Seyda and Jews for Techno. Those who rather preferred a calm and quiet end to the day could be found cuddling up around the bonfire with a cup of tea, listening to the crackling fire and the sounds of the forest.

Learn

The Reforest Fest offered a possibility to grow and exchange thoughts as everyone was welcomed to sit in on talks on conservation and sustainable living and to attend eco-workshops where they could enhance their knowledge about eco bricking, recycling and much more.

A special event we were all really happy to celebrate at the Friends Weekend was Earth Hour. The event is held worldwide annually encouraging everyone to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour as a symbol for their commitment to the planet. So for one hour we all had the chance to fully unplug and (re)connect with nature while watching the breathtaking fireshow of The Psychedelic Theatre accompanied by the eerie music of Wild Lettuce.

Play

At the Family Weekend of course our little guests shouldn't miss out on anything. So there were lots of fun activities waiting for them. Besides guided forest walks with The Platbos Forest and Eco Atlas they could join talent shows, treasure hunts or spend the day playing games and hula hooping. Others enjoyed a puppet show with Krazy Koala Entertainment or tried out their creative skills at some arts and crafts with Cloud School and Chic Mamas.

At night the ones who were brave enough were invited to take part in a haunting storytelling session under the canopy of the Milkwood Tree.

Plant

Certainly it wouldn't be a Greenpop Reforest Fest without some massive tree planting action. So we spent two days digging holes and planting seedlings.

By planting a total of 8,001 trees we got a big step closer to growing Platbos Forest Reserve back to its original abundance. In the words of our TREE-E-O Misha Teasdale,  “The Greenpop Reforest Fest is one of the purest examples of our mission in action. We want to help people (re)connect with our planet and each other, and year on year we watch community grow and interact and celebrate together in the Platbos Forest.”

Thanks to all of the over 850 Treevolutionaries that took part in the event and got their hands dirty with us to make this possible!

And last, but certainly not least, we would like to say a HUGE thank you to all of our sponsors! This year's Greenpop Reforest Fests wouldn't have been possible without you:

It's PLATBOS time!

The Greenpop Reforest Fest is back!

Join us in MARCH 2016 for an idyllic, fun-filled weekend in the ancient Platbos Forest full of music, play, digging in and getting dirty as you help plant thousands of trees, and (re)connect with nature and a forest full of friends!

Together we’ll help rehabilitate Platbos and experience the spirit of holistic green living as we plant trees, camp under the stars and Milkwoods, dance to live music and become a part of growing Platbos Forest Reserve back to its original abundance.

The festival is split between a Family weekend and a Friends weekend. The family-focused weekend welcomes children of all ages, offers a range of exciting activities to get kids and adults interacting with the forest and each other, and ensures that music stops at about 10:30pm on Saturday night to give everyone a good night’s rest in the forest. The Friends weekend is the perfect place to bring old friends and meet new ones. The party goes on for longer and the eco-workshops and talks are aimed at a more adult audience, although all ages are welcome at both events!

GOT KIDDIES IN TOW?

Join the FAMILY Weekend: http://bit.ly/Reforest16FBFAM

Check out the FAMILY Weekend Facebook Event Page: http://bit.ly/Reforest16FBFAM 

UP FOR A BIT MORE OF A PARTY?

Join the FRIENDS Weekend: http://bit.ly/ReforestFRIENDS16

Check out the FRIENDS Weekend Facebook Event Page: http://bit.ly/Reforest16FBFRI

Greenpop. - Much like the Platbos Reforest Fest, Greenpop will be launching their Hogsback Reforest Fest this September which is Arbor Month. Offering a celebration of our earth and trees through reforestation, music, workshops, competition and yoga. 

The location is a magical place in the Amathole Mountains of the Eastern Cape and the dates are 12- 14 September. The Reforest Fest is a chance to plant loads of indigenous trees, enjoy some fine live music, do loads of fun activities and make some very special memories!

Trust me, I know from first hand experience that there's no better tree-tinged feel good than time away working with this team.

Given that this a first for Greenpop, they're asking for some help to get the word out. Greenpop partner Reliance Compost are running a competition called "Lord of the Things: What do you rely on?' as the Hogsback Valley is rumoured to have inspired Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. 

If you'd like to help spread the Greenpop word, here are some ideas:

1. Create a Facebook status about Hogsback Reforest Fest and tag 10 friends who might be interested in attending. Please also tag Greenpop and the Greenpop Hogsback Reforest Fest event on Facebook.

​​2. Tweet this link to your followers.

3. Nominate a band or artist you would like to see perform at the Reforest Fest. There are still spaces to fill, just mail or make a submission.

Otherwise just follow your heart, pack your gardening gloves, walking shoes and sun hat and ready for the road trip to join them. Registration is here and tickets can be bought through Webticket.

Safe travels and please plant a tree for me!

We spent the last slip of the school holidays at Platbos Forest, in the Overberg. Natural magic, camp fire stories, barefoot wanderings; perfectly at home.