PRESS RELEASE BY THE MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND PUBLIC CLEANLINESS 75% of the works completed at il-Madonna tal-Vitorja Garden in Pembroke

100 new trees, including a carob tree weighing around 4,000 kg

Work at il-Madonna tal-Vitorja Garden in Pembroke is progressing well, as an area of about 2,250 square metres — part of which was previously covered with tarmac — is being transformed into an open space for residents.

During a site visit with the Project Green team and members of the Pembroke Local Council, including Mayor Kaylon Zammit, the Minister for the Environment Miriam Dalli noted that this is another project being implemented in an urban area.

“I am pleased to be back here in Pembroke where we are developing a garden in a place that was partly even a road, and where each time I visit, I see the progress being made. In this area there will be a sizeable garden with more than one hundred trees being planted. From a place that had unfortunately ended up collecting construction waste — so much so that we collected more than 2.5 tonnes of this type of waste from here — we will now have this garden for residents of the locality and for everyone who visits this area," said Minister Miriam Dalli.

With an investment of around €425,000, several interventions have been carried out so that in the coming period, il-Madonna tal-Vitorja Garden can start being enjoyed by the residents of Pembroke and surrounding areas. In this project, historical elements are being preserved while an open and accessible space is being created. Sustainable elements are an integral part of the project, as invasive plants were removed, and native soil was excavated and reused on site.

Among the works carried out are structural works, including the construction of walls using recycled stone blocks, surface compaction, and new pathways. Among the trees being planted is also a mature carob tree measuring around 6 metres in height and weighing about 4,000kg.

Mayor Kaylon Zammit stated, “Ġnien il-Madonna tal-Vitorja garden is another project that is very close to my heart. It is a space that was mostly concrete and tarmac and has now been transformed into a regenerated area where families — particularly those from the locality — will be able to spend their free time. This collaboration with Project Green is giving us the opportunity, as a community, to integrate more closely with the environment around us. The garden will certainly also serve as an educational space, where nearby schools can move beyond traditional classroom lessons and make use of this area as part of their learning experience. At the same time, we have also ensured that within this garden there is a dedicated space so that the stray cats in the surrounding area have a place where they can shelter in a safer and more suitable environment. This collaboration clearly demonstrates how a Local Council can continue to invest strongly in the community — an investment that directly translates into a better quality of life for our residents."