Enhancing environment

Minister Giovanna Debono recently visited the nursery in Victoria where the ministry's Afforestation and Public Gardens Section is growing flowers and trees as part of a new programme to enhance the environment in Gozo.

The section is responsible for planting trees and flowers, as well as maintaining public gardens, soft areas and roundabouts in various localities.

The majority of flowers, plants and trees for these areas are being grown in two nurseries with a greenhouse. The greenhouse, built specifically in the past year, produces about 25,000 seasonal plants per year grown from seed or cuttings. Preparations are in hand to build a second greenhouse.

A number of plants, which flower for six months a year, have also been purchased to enhance the environment for a longer period of time. Satisfactory results have also been achieved from the section's experiment to grow turf from seed in the Villa Rundle Gardens in Victoria. The project also includes the upgrading of Villa Rundle and the offices of the Afforestation and Public Gardens Section which are situated these gardens.