The outpost known as 'het Paradijs' (Paradise) was founded in 1688 when Simon van der Stel ordered some 40,000 oak trees be planted there. He described it as a place situated an hour and a quarter's journey from the Cape, where a number of liberated slaves were permitted to live. The outposts of Newlands and De Schuur were situated along the northeastern edge of the forest. In 1711 the forest was radically thinned out in order to ensure that the trees were afforded sufficient room to grow. The wood was used to conduct repairs to the fort at the Cape of Good Hope.