The Body Shop Foundation, the charitable trust set up by The Body Shop International has granted an award to Din l-Art Helwa, National Trust of Malta, for the greening of areas around the historic sites managed by the organisation. Areas around the Delimara Lighthouse and that of Foresta 2000, including below the Red Tower in Mellieha can benefit from this award. Together with Birdlife Malta and the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs, Din l-Art Helwa manages the vast project known as Foresta 2000 that stretches from Mellieha Bay to the extreme promontory at Ic-Cumnija and over the last five years thousands of endemic trees and shrubs have been planted.

Simone Mizzi, local representative of The Body Shop, said “This money from The Body Shop Foundation comes at a time when areas such as Foresta 2000 in Mellieha are at a stage in their development plan when visitors can enjoy more visible interpretation with maps of the area close to the coastal road, pathways and guided trails. The funds can help the site managers to continue to protect against vandalism and dumping and to continue the planting schemes. The list is endless”.

With the funds, Din l-Art Helwa also intends to lend support to the farmers who work the fields within the area. The organisation will be harvesting the organic honey from the apiaries close by and sell it within the historic sites it looks after, together with local olive oil, and other produce that abounds so plentifully, thus giving visitors further enjoyment of local traditions and supporting the needs of the communities in which the properties are situated. Simone Mizzi, who also assists Din l-Art Helwa said “Having its own branded goods will also help Din l-Art Helwa raise more funds with which to maintain its numerous historic sites”.

The Body Shop Foundation is the charitable trust set up by The Body Shop International to support innovative projects across the world working for social & environmental change. A Board of trustees, including Gordon Roddick, husband of the late Dame Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, manages the fund, and each year it awards financial grants to deserving small charities, NGOS and groups all over the world that focus on human rights, social development, environmental and animal protection. NGO’s in Malta and Gozo wishing to receive further information about the 2009/2010 Body Shop Foundation Grants programme, are invited to email bodyshopfoundation@thebodyshop.com. Applications for grant awards together with an outline of deserving projects must be submitted by 18 September.