The six trees outside the Valletta historic market (Is-Suq tal-Belt), which have been there for the past 50 to 60 years, have been pruned and will be lifted from their present location tomorrow.

Manuel Delia, from the Investment, Industry and Information Technology Ministry, said that the high Ficus trees do not form part of the urban design of the square – the new site that has been chosen for the relocation of the Valletta open-air market.

Now that the Merchants Street embellishment project is under way, the area will be upgraded accordingly, he said.

Speaking during a media briefing yesterday morning, Mr Delia said that the trees will be lifted from their present location tomorrow. They will then be nursed at Wied Incita Nursery and will eventually be relocated.

The surface of the square will need to be levelled out and will also be paved. Mr Delia said the trees are a non-indigenous species and are larger than is required in an urban environment. The trees were probably planted halfway through the 20th century.

Neil Walby, from Environmental Landscapes Consortium Limited, which is responsible for the trees to be lifted, nursed and relocated, explained that the trees were heavily pruned, so that as little water as possible will be lost while they are being lifted and transported to Wied Incita.

He said the roots have been exposed due to excavation work forming part of the Merchants Street embellishment project, so this is a very good time for the trees to be lifted.

“We will definitely stress the trees due to this process, but we are confident that the technique we will be using will give them a very good chance of survival. Besides, the ficus is a very tough tree,” said Mr Walby, adding that the trees will be able to be relocated within the next six months.

The Merchants Street embellishment project will also include the area surrounding the parvis of St John’s Co-Cathedral. No decision has been taken with regard to the trees in that area as yet.

The trees there were probably planted in the 1930s, so it will be a more difficult operation if they had to be removed, but a decision will definitely have to be taken in the near future, said Mr Delia.