It's not often that the entire family can enjoy time together in the great outdoors – with the family pooch coming along too! This must be one of the reasons for the success of the annual 1000 Paws Walk for SPCA, which takes place this year on Sunday 12 July at the usual venue: Hilton College outside Pietermaritzburg. It's a great way to celebrate the outdoor in the wonderful KZN Midlands' countryside, with a choice of an easy 2km walk around the school sports grounds or the more challenging but lovely 4km trail through the plantations on the school borders overlooking the Albert Falls dam. Walkers without dogs will also enjoy the opportunity to stretch their legs in these safe and scenic surroundings. In addition to the relaxed festival atmosphere, it's also a wonderful way to support the three local SPCA branches that care for the area's needy animals of all shapes and sizes: the Pietermaritzburg, uMngeni (Howick) and Mooi River branches of this worthy animal welfare organisation that relies on public support for funds.
If a walk isn't appealing then come along for the arena events and activities. Be wowed by the growling majesty of various motorbikes from several biker clubs. Chuckle at the various dog-and-owner competitions – and maybe enter, there are great prizes to be won! Clap along to the talented Dancing with Dogs display, be impressed by obedience routines from Funda Nenja and the Midlands K9 dog-and-kids educational projects, and hold your breath at the skills of the canine agility course entrants. Chance your luck with the 'lucky plate' skydiving demonstration, where if a skydiver lands on your plate you're a winner. Amble around the stalls and pick up bargains and treats at the various food outlets. There is also a beer garden and tea tent to quench that post-walk thirst. The dogs will be accommodated with bowls for drinking and paddling placed throughout the grounds and walks, and vets are on duty throughout the day.
The 1000 Paws Walk for SPCA is the major annual fundraising event for the three Midlands branches of the SPCA, and funds raised will help support the dedicated and ongoing work to prevent cruelty to all living creatures, including domestic pets, livestock, wildlife, birds, reptiles and fish, with a focus on education and assistance to impoverished communities. The SPCA receives no funding from national government and all SPCA branches are required to source funding from their own areas to survive, making this event a significant opportunity to support the SPCA.
So make a note – it's Sunday 12 July. Entrance is R40 per person, R10 per dog, with kids under 12 enjoying free entry. The gates and walks open at 9am, with the walks closing off at noon, when people and their pets can head back to enjoy the many options for a tasty lunch and take in the entertainment at the main arena. Pack a rucksack, check that your walking shoes still fit, and we'll see you there! It's a great day of fun in the sun, and you'll be doing something for the animals of your community too!
The Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy is holding their annual Ashburton Aloe Festival, just outside Pietermaritzburg, on the weekend of the 27th and 28th June. The Festival coincides with the flowering of the wild Aloe Candelabra on the hillsides, making a spectacular show!
The Environmental Education team at Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve have two holiday programmes running during the coming July holiday. They are hosting a 
Congratulations to Howick Prep School Grade 3 pupil, Sarah Macaskill, on her outstanding performance, winning 7 awards, at the Royal Show.
There are changes afoot at Umgeni Waterfall Bowling Club. The walls are bare and curtains are down while the clubhouse is being repainted. The work is being done by a small group of dedicated men who are doing a wonderful job. Once the work is completed all notice boards will be updated, pictures and curtains will be rehung and the honours boards will be refurbished and brought up to date.
Friday, 29 May was an exciting day for the youngsters who attend St Joseph's Pre-school – it was their annual sports' day. Boys and girls ranging in age from 4 years to 6 years participated in sack races, potato and spoon races, three-legged races, obstacle races, etc.. It was wonderful to see their concentration and the smiles on their faces during all the races.
Helping keep the Midlands clean. Local waste management business 
AFRICAN INSIGHT SAFARI TRAVEL SHOP
We had a good week with our monthly Halfway Toyota competition. The winners were Brian Ellison, Chantal d'Hotman and Jo Boonzaier. The plate winners were Hilary Williams, Mabel Tully and Dave Riall. A good time was had by all.
The Tax Season Opens on 1 July 2015 for 2015 Tax Returns. These tax returns cover the period 1 March 2014 – 28 February 2015 and the deadline is 21 November 2015 for all normal taxpayers and 31 January 2016 for all provisional tax payers.
Nine Grade 7 pupils from 
Coming out of the dark ages, we lived in the Agrarian Age where wealth was created from the land and, therefore, a few landholders had the power and wealth of the nation. Battles were fought over land and the differing resources that the geography possessed, giving title deeds to the victor.
The Swan Song Concert was a fitting tribute to Howick High School teacher, Debbi Le Roux, who is leaving to teach in Sweden. A program of music, singing and dance by Debbi's Dancing pupils, the Howick High Senior Band, Choir and dance company entertained members of the local community with a fantastic guest performance by Grace Botha (nee Sonjica), a past Howick High School Head Girl, who sang 'Gloria' especially for Debbi. Some of the Howick Prep School grade 4 and 5 girls participated in the Swan Song concert.(pictured)
In nature, there is no magic water factory – the water on the earth now is the same water that has been here since the beginning of time. Whether in the Karoo or the forests of the Congo, the basics of the water cycle are the same: Water falls on the land as rain, snow, sleet, hail and mist, runs into our rivers, fills our dams and underground aquifers, and flows out to the oceans. The sun evaporates this water, clouds form and some of it falls again on the land. This is the water that we all use. Only 3% of the water on our planet is freshwater (as opposed to saline) and only 1% is available for our use.
Sne Nzimande and Jordan Fourie, both in Grade 8 at Howick High School, received 1st place awards in the Standard and Latin Ballroom dancing sections of the KZN World Dance Trials held on 25 April 2015. They have been dance partners for three years and we congratulate them on their wonderful achievement.