Students from Luqa Primary School, part of St Ignatius College, this week participated in a tree-planting activity organised by BirdLife Malta in collaboration with the Luqa local council and the school.
BirdLife Malta donated three indigenous trees to the community: two Mediterranean Buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus) trees and one Lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus) tree.
The event began at the primary school, which actively participates in BirdLife Malta’s educational programme, Dinja Waħda. There, members of BirdLife Malta spoke to Year 4 primary students about the importance of trees, both for nature and for humans.
Afterwards, the students walked to Misraħ iż-Żgħażagħ, where they planted the three trees together with Luqa mayor John Schembri.
Misraħ iż-Żgħażagħ is an open space enjoyed by many Luqa residents, featuring playgrounds for children and the local boċċi club, among other facilities.
The students enjoyed taking part in the activity, during which they gained a greater understanding of the importance of trees, including those that enhance their own school environment. After planting the three trees, the students returned to their school, where they also planted several indigenous plants in the school gardens.
BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana said: “This symbolic yet highly relevant gesture connects all aspects of our work in the community. Last October, a Luqa resident asked for our help after a tree was being cut down. When contacted, the local council explained that it was a health and safety measure, as the tree posed a serious risk. The Civil Protection Department was called in to remove the tree safely.
“This is where the idea sprouted − we engaged with the school children to replace this mature tree with three smaller ones, hoping that one day they will grow into mature, healthy trees benefitting both urban biodiversity and the residents of Luqa.”
He thanked the mayor and the Luqa local council for their immediate support of this initiative, as well as the ‘Grow 10 Trees’ project, which donated one of the Mediterranean Buckthorn trees for this activity.
This initiative aligns with BirdLife Malta’s mission to not only protect and conserve birds and their natural environment but also bring communities closer to nature.
To become a member of BirdLife Malta http://birdlifemalta.org/become-member/
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