Ambjent Malta has completed interventions on five new green open spaces for the purpose of picnics and recreation, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia said.

Last year, the Ministry together with the Planning Authority had  issued a discussion paper to seek feedback on camping, caravan and picnic sites, aimed at assisting and guiding policy framework for land use related to these activities. 

From this consultation, some areas were identified as potential areas for picnicking which include areas in Fgura, Salina, l-Aħrax tal-Mellieha, il-Miżieb and Dwejra along the Victoria Lines.

Upon inspection and assessment, Ambjent Malta started various soft interventions, where it conducted pruning, general clean-up of waste and removal of dumped material, removal of invasive alien species and the installation of new signs. In the picnic area of Mizieb new picnic benches were also installed.  

Minister Farrugia reiterated that recreational areas are what makes communities liveable, as they provide a better environment and contribute to a better quality of life, which is why government has embarked on creating greener communities that foster a greater sense of public pride and cohesion, improving our communities and quality of life for residents. 

"The feedback you have given us from the public consultation we launched a few months ago is materializing. Today we are announcing five new areas that Ambjent Malta has been working on so that in the future they can be used as picnic areas. This project goes hand in hand with the series of initiatives that we are implementing across the islands in order to create green open spaces for families,” Farrugia said.