Update

KNYSNA NEWS - The contribution by the Parkes family to Knysna has spanned more than a century – just over 125 years – and the legacy to remain will be in the planting of yellowwood trees around town.

In February last year the family donated 100 yellowwood trees to the municipality and up until this week, the fate of the trees was not known.

Despite numerous attempts by CEO Jim Parkes of Geo Parkes & Sons to find out from the municipality what happened to them – and several queries by the Knysna-Plett Herald over the last months – it has now been established the trees are not lost or dead.

Of the 100 trees, which are also called "handsome trees" that are usually evergreen and can grow up to 30m in height, 94 are still in the municipality's safekeeping – and will soon be planted.

The trees are earmarked for various parts of the CBD, including Grey, Long, Queen and Church streets, explained Parkes, and to replace the dozens of oak trees that have died.

At the time of the donation last year, six trees were planted in Memorial Square – but the rest were never seen or heard of again.

This week, the the municipality said in a statement that they are grateful to the Parkes family for the contribution of these trees, adding that Knysna’s natural beauty is one of the main attractions that draws visitors to the town and these trees will "most certainly" enhance the natural beauty.

“The remainder of the trees are at our municipal nursery, where they are being carefully maintained and looked after.

"Due to the June 2017 fires, the focus of the parks department shifted to deal fire-related issues," said a spokesperson for the municipality.

“The municipality recently started its first phase of its CBD Renewal Programme and the appointment of a qualified horticulturist is at an advanced stage. We wish to assure the Parkes family and residents that the planting of these trees will be treated with the care it deserves. Partnerships like these are truly appreciated.”

• Readers reacted with surprise and equal disappointment to a teaser (small part of the story) that was published online that only expressed Parkes' query about where the trees were.

There was speculation by some readers that the trees had died, were overfertilised, or were simply lost by the municipality, but these concerns have now been addressed.

Read a previous article: Parkes Donation of 100 trees 'vanish into thin air'

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