Din l-Art Helwa, Birdlife Malta and the PARK Department are together managing a large area selected for upgrading and afforestation.

The Foresta 2000 site begins down near the Mellieha-Cirkewwa coast road and stretches west to the cliffs at Ic-Cumnija.

The road running in front of the Red Tower on Marfa Ridge, which is opened daily by Din l-Art Helwa volunteers, is the northern boundary of the project. It then extends southwards towards the Ghadira Nature Reserve.

The two environmental NGOs working together with the PARK department require volunteers willing to get their hands dirty, to do some “heavy gardening” at the Foresta site – mainly the clearing of spaces, planting, cutting grass, and the removal of dead wood. Anyone can get involved on a regular basis, or just once... all offers of help are welcome, so the public are invited to bring along friends and family.

This area was extensively used and altered by human activity, often to the detriment of the natural environment and the aesthetics of the site.

The three organisations are working to recreate and preserve tracts of Mediterranean woodland, garigue and clay steppe, to encourage biodiversity and to improve access to the site for the general public to enjoy.

Only native trees and shrubs are being planted on the Foresta site.

If you are interested in helping out, do call Din l-Art Helwa on 21225952 or send an email on [email protected]. Roll up your sleeves to help protect the Maltese countryside!