02/09/2026
Celebrating the Trees of Riverside Reserve - National Arbor Week (1-7 September)
This Arbor Week, we’re celebrating some of the most important residents of Riverside Reserve: our trees.
The Reserve is home to a remarkable diversity of indigenous vegetation, with 366 plant species recorded across 86 families. Its woodlands include magnificent kiaat and marula trees, alongside species such as wild pear, monkey thorn, bushwillow and African wattle.
Four tree species found here (kiaat, water berry, red ivory and marula) are protected under the National Forests Act, highlighting just how valuable these trees are to our natural heritage.
Along the Nels River, the trees form part of a Vulnerable Lowveld Riverine Forest ecosystem, providing habitat and an important ecological corridor for wildlife.
That is why protecting our trees matters.
At Riverside Reserve, caring for the environment means protecting indigenous vegetation, removing invasive alien plants and preserving the natural habitats that make this greenbelt such a special part of Mbombela.
This Arbor Week, take a moment to look up — and appreciate the trees standing quietly around us.
