Bank of Valletta commemorated Arbor Day with a donation of 10,000 rulers/ bookmarks with images and information about the five indigenous trees being planted in the 34U campaign.

The rulers/bookmarks were presented to schoolchildren by Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment George Pullicino during an event held at St Catherine’s School in Pembroke, the winning school of the first edition of the 34U school campaign award. Mr Pullicino thanked Bank of Valletta and highlighted the importance of more private organisations assisting the government in its various environmental initiatives.

St Catherine’s School Pembroke won this year’s 34U award and St Aloysius College was runner up. Mr Pullicino presented the award and congratulated the students of the winning school for their success. He also praised the dedication of teachers who over and above their normal duties went out of their way to encourage student participation.

Mr Pullicino reiterated the government’s commitment to attach primary importance to environmental education since this is a sure way of instilling a positive environmental appreciation and awareness. He augured that this year’s Arbor Day will kick-start another successful year in tree planting and the 34U Campaign.

Arbor Day 2007 was celebrated with a difference. The activities coordinated by the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment came to an end with the first 34U School Campaign Award being presented to the winning school. The award has a two-fold educational aim – to increase awareness among schoolchildren on the importance of trees and to have more areas with trees across the Maltese Islands.

The Arbor Day commemoration also included a half-day tour at the Ta’ Qali National Park for another two schools. This consisted of a visit to the nursery where the students were shown how trees are grown, the different types of seeds and all the other work related to the propagation of trees. This was followed by a treasure hunt, with questions and clues related to the park itself. Tree planting and tree identification were also included in the day’s events.