In the last year, the Ministry of Environment cleaned up eight valleys, Minister Jose Herrera said.

Minister Herrera stated that in total there are 37 valleys on the islands, which eventually will all be cleaned up

He was speaking in Wied Il-Kbir, where a current clean-up of illegally dumped waste and vegetation not native to area was taking place this morning.

Mayor of Qormi, Jesmond Aquilina, stated that 120 trees have been planted in the area thanks to the Community Chest Fund.

Photos Michael Camilleri

At Wied il-Kbir, when the waste is removed, the plants that aren't native to the area will be substituted by native trees indigenous to the valley, Herrera said.

"In the next few weeks valleys in Gudja, Birzebugga, Marsascala and Siggiewi will be cleaned," the minister said.

All cleans up are carried out by P.A.R.K.S which moved under the responsibility of the environmental ministry.