The Planning Commission has given planning permission for a temporary structure to be installed in the woodland of Buskett as part of a conservation project. The project consists in the installation of three temporary cages which will be used to breed and re-introduce the Barn Owl into the wild. This bird was formerly a regularly breeding native species, with the last breeding records from the wild being from the late 1980s.

The cages will be placed adjacent to the Grade 1 protected 17th century farmhouse that was constructed during the time of Grand Master Lascaris. The building is known as ‘ir-Razzett tal-Bagħal’. Buskett is an ideal habitat for the Barn Owl to be breed due to its protection status and its mature woodland.   

The Barn Owl, a protected species in Malta and the EU, is known in Maltese as il-barbaġann, is renowned for its ability to hunt at night. The barn owl is usually about 24cm in length and is covered by a golden-buff cape on its head, back and tail. Its heart-shaped white face and large eyes are striking characteristics.

The permission requires that within a period of 5 years the structures are removed and the land is reinstated to its original state.