Ta Ya Group Plants Trees at Taijiang during Family Day

       The Ta Ya Pristine Homeland Foundation has been participating in Taijiang River bank cleanup since 2014. This year, the foundation joined the Tainan City Water Resources Bureau to organize a Family Day event at Benyuanliao Drainage and plant 50 seedlings of Chinaberry. These seedlings shall remain under Ta Ya's care before they are transferred to Water Resources Bureau on a later date.

       In the morning of the 28th, more than 100 participants from Ta Ya Electric Wires and Cable, Ta Heng Electric Wire and Cable and AD Engineering gathered at Yuanzhong Village Community Center in Annan District. Many of whom were elders and children and had participated in the activity as a family. Deputy Director Yin Shi-Hsi of Tainan City Government Bureau of Economic Development was present at the event on behalf of Mayor Lai Ching-Te, while Annan Junior High School Principal Guo Xianzhang, Haidong Elementary School Principal Liu Zhenlin, Haidong Village Chief Wu Rongkun, Yuanzhong Village Chief Wu Mengzhong, and Zhenxing Village Chief Tong Xiaoyun had also participated in this event.

       Group Chairman Shen Shang-Hung was glad about how well employees of the southern business group had responded to the tree plantation activity, and said: "Planting trees is like taking care of babies; you do whatever it takes to ensure their survival. We will begin small with 50 seedlings of Chinaberry. Six months later, maintenance works will be taken over by Ta Ya Pristine Homeland Foundation. Once the seedlings have secured their roots, they will be handed over to the Water Resources Bureau."

       Director Li Meng-Yen of Tainan City Water Resources Bureau said: "Taijiang was highly susceptible to flooding in the past because of its low elevation. In recent years, the drainage has been widened several times to solve the problem. This year is the first time we try to dig open the paved road and plant trees along the bank. We hope that one day the trees may grow to decorate the foot trail." Director Li thanked Ta Ya employees and family members for their involvement, and announced that Shanhaizhen Tunnel will be fully opened sometime this year, by which time he will invite Chairman Shen to lead his team of cyclists and ride from Taijiang all the way to Wusanto Reservoir.Being a former graduate of Haidong Elementary School, President Wu Mao-Chen of Tainan Community University Taijiang Campus shared his memories about the changes of Taijiang Basin and reiterated that Chinaberry is the most suitable species for the local environment. All it takes is proper planting and frequent watering in the beginning stage and nature will take care of the trees for us.

       In fact, the Ta Ya Foundation had invited Taijiang Campus one day ago to explain some important things about planting trees and organize a practice. Under the guidance of these tutors, employees divided themselves into teams, collected the required tools and progressed step-by-step from digging, planting, covering to watering. They made sure that the seedlings stood up straight before leaving.

       Today's event welcomed a special group of guests: the musical band of Singuang Elementary School (Guanmiao District), who joined the tree plantation and performed the Song of Taiping followed by a compilation of erhu music under the guidance of Principal Tsai Yu-Hsien. Principal Tsai said: "We thank Ta Ya for its help with the mosquito hazard, and look forward to seeing your children at Singuang Elementary School."The event ended with a fun quiz, and the winner won a unique, handcrafted puppet of a golden bat. As Ta Ya Family Day ended in joy, the participants made a promise to come back and check on the seedlings they planted.