Some 1,000 trees have been planted in the rehabilitation and afforestation project for Wied Blandun, in the south. The trees are just part of a donation of 24,000 made by a Swedish company to the national afforestation plan 34U.

Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino said Wied Blandun had suffered badly in the 1970s when it was decided to build a road along it. Works now in hand will be carried out in four phases, not to made sudden changes to the valley’s ecosystem. Dumped rubbish is being removed and in the other three phases the water course will be restored, and alien species introduced will be removed gradually, to be replaced by indigenous trees. Because a relatively rare fungus grows in the valley dead wood is being left around.

The Scandinavian company Sunlife Style Resorts has announced it will be donating 24,000 trees by October next year. Its representative, Nina Stastny, said Eden Lifestyle will be planting a tree in Malta for every tourist it takes to the Mediterranean over that period, to make up for carbon emissions caused by air travel.

Mr Pullicino said the trees will be planted at Wied Blandun and at a new site in Madliena, with 1,200 to be planted at Buskett.