It has become an annual tradition for teams from the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP) field extension and diagnostic clinic to embark on a joint field trip. This trip provides an opportunity for the teams to interact with and learn from forestry colleagues. It also promotes integration between the two teams and provides an opportunity for members to learn from one another, ranging from field diagnostics and sample collection to sample processing and the provision of informative and relevant feedback.

This year, the trip took the team to the Eastern Cape where they visited areas including Ugie, Qumrha, East London, Hogsback, and Queenstown. The trip was led by Sandisiwe Jali (field extension manager) and Dr Wilma Nel (diagnostic clinic manager), and joined by Tholinhlanhla Ndlovu, Alida van Dijk, Bianke Marx, Jandre Verster, Colisane Nyoni, and Siphamandla Shongwe.

The first day of the trip included a pests and pathogens workshop coordinated by TPCP and PG Bison, with many foresters from the Ugie, Maclear, and Elliot areas in attendance. The workshop included an indoor presentation by Sandisiwe Jali and Dr Wilma Nel. Thereafter, field visits were conducted where the TPCP group and the foresters in attendance got hands-on training on sample collection, packaging, and identification of different pests and pathogens. The rest of the week went as successfully as the first day of the trip, with a visit to Amathole’s Hogback plantation and a visit to an NCT farmer in Qumrha.

We would like to thank: Tiffany King, Wessel Snyman, and Mzomhle Mtshintshi from PG Bison; Murray Elliot from NCT; and Winston Kamfer, Sinethemba Nqawe, and Ian Welsh from Amathole Forestry Company