U3A launches into new future

Staff Reporter|Published 4 years ago

The seringa tree, Burkea Africana, used by Pierneef in many of his paintings, seen here in the African bushveld.

U3A Helderberg will launch into the future with the live streaming on YouTube of an address on trees of the bushveld, on Tuesday February 23, at 10am.

At the helm will be ardent naturalist, conservationist and environmental manager Megan Emmett Parker, who will share her knowledge on the trees of the bushveld.

Megan Emmett Parker has degrees in conservation and environmental management, and years of experience in guiding and training field guides. She was senior producer of the TV programme, 50|50, for nearly a decade and has authored a range of books, including the best-selling Game Ranger in your Backpack.

While that may seem to be at the other end of our beautiful country, many have been to the Kruger National Park or the bushveld and admired the stately giants along the river banks as well as the vegetation of the plains.

Megan’s talk will focus on tree identification and some other mysteries related to trees. A peep into this magical world may just open a whole new field of interest for some of U3A Helderberg members, and may even inspire some local tree identification, if not some tree hugging.

Megan has been involved in TV productions, guiding and the training of field guides. She also has a few books to her credit, and her book 100 Bushveld Trees will be available to U3A members.

Members will receive an email confirming the time and date of this YouTube meeting with simple instructions on how to access the talk. Participants will be able to pose questions for the speaker during the live streaming, and feedback will be appreciated.