Wild fruits eaten by rural people include monkey oranges, amatungulu and wild plum. The shade of trees is welcomed by man and beast alike, providing essential shelter in the hottest climates. Trees are often used as windbreaks to shelter sensitive crops. Some species are tall and thin, others flat-topped and spreading, leaves come in every shape and size, flowers and fruits are frequently decorative. These qualities make trees ideal for beautifying gardens, cities, and even industrial estates.
Trees are the largest of living things.
Some species grow 100 metres tall and may weigh 600 tonnes. Baobabs live for up to 2000 years and some of the Bristlecone pines in North America are nearly 5000 years old - about the same age as the pyramids in Egypt. About half of the world's population use wood as fuel for cooking and heating. The seed store of the Dept. Environment Affairs supplies seeds to people wanting to grow trees from seed. Include individual trees which deserve conservation because of their size or other special value.