Twenty-seven fully grown plane trees have been successfully relocated from the Gowrie Farm golf estate to Brahman Hills, in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, where they now form part of what is set to become one of South Africa’s most ambitious garden projects.

At over 20 ha, The Serenity Garden development will include expansive garden rooms, water features, an underground orchid house, an olive garden and an African art museum, all designed by landscape artist Tim Steyn and developed intentionally as part of a long-term landscape legacy project.

Brahman Hills director Onwaba Gonyora says relocating mature trees forms part of a broader approach on the property that focuses on working with the land and protecting what already exists wherever possible.

“These trees will long outlive us. They will cast shade for future generations, witness seasons of change and help root The Serenity Garden in legacy,” he adds.

In June 2025, The Serenity Garden team had identified the 27 plane trees at Gowrie Farm, where they were marked for removal to make way for development. Instead, the trees were carefully lifted, with their root systems preserved, and placed into protective growing bags and maintained there for several months ahead of relocation.

This process required specialist horticultural expertise to ensure their survival and successful re-establishment.

In February, the trees were then transplanted into The Serenity Garden, where they now stand as some of the first major structural elements within the gardens.

Moreover, plane trees are known for their generous shade, textured bark, impressive height and ability to flourish over decades, bringing both presence and quiet character to the landscape.

As The Serenity Garden continues to take shape, the plane trees now stand as a quiet reminder that environmental stewardship is not just about planting something new but about preserving what already carries strength and legacy.

“This International Arbor Day, they offer a living example of what it means to protect legacy, not just create it,” Gonyora concludes.