Planting the seeds for growth
The Environment and Landscapes Consortium's (ELC) contract has just been extended for a further five years. Are we getting our money's worth? Vanessa Macdonald spoke to horticultural consultant Peter Calleja, who is a member of the monitoring board that oversees the ELC's projects.
Peter Calleja returned to Malta in July 2001 having spent many years overseas. He saw a real difference in Malta's landscaping - but more importantly, he believes that the real benefits of the ELC public-private partnership are only now emerging.
Let's face it: In the beginning, the focus was on adding instant colour through seasonal plants. It is only as time went on that projects were tackled in a more holistic way with long-term impact taken into account. And even though turf might make an immediate impact, plants take a few years to come into their prime.
"The monitoring board is trying to encourage more perennials. So for example, instead of putting down 1,000 stock plants, we are suggesting dwarf oleanders, or other similar perennials, which would be there to stay. They need pruning, fertilising and cleaning, but at least they are in flower for a much longer time," he said.
Indeed, the board does keep "value for money" in mind, going for plants that last as long as possible - such as geraniums that can bloom for up to a year, compared to stocks that only have a realistic life-span of six months.
The trend is also to go for smaller areas of seasonal plants, interspersed between trees and shrubs. This is particularly noticeable in the approach roads to Valletta, where people commute on a daily basis and therefore need a bit of a change.
"St Anne Street in Valletta is a nightmare because there is so much pollution and heat. In fact, we recently removed the geraniums, which were starting to look shabby. Our contractor has just replenished the soil with mushroom compost and we will then probably plant marigolds, which are very cheap and will provide a touch of colour until it is time to plant red geraniums again," he said.
In other areas, like Regional Road and Valley Road, the emphasis in much more visibly on perennials.
"On the St Paul's Bay bypass, all the main areas have been planted with dwarf oleanders and other perennials. By the beginning of summer they will be in flower and weather permitting will remain in bloom all through till October next year," he said.
"The skate park at Tal-Qroqq will also have a very strong element of trees and shrubs.
"A few weeks ago, we planted the area around the Paul Boffa monument in Valletta with Carissa, the Natal plum, and some lovely hibiscus with yellow flowers. In the past, there were two changes of seasonal plants every year. Now the perennials are there to stay and only a quarter as many seasonal plants will be used to give it a splash of colour."
The projects also take labour costs into account. It may take as long to put in a cheap plant as an expensive one but planning means that less time is spent afterwards on weed-control and irrigation.
Weed mats are being laid down which allow water and air to pass through but which stifle weeds. These are covered with mulch made by ELC itself from shredded prunings.
All the new projects - such as those at Xemxija, Kappara Roundabout, Civil Aviation Road in Luqa, and Zebbug - have built-in reservoirs, either beneath the plants or adjacent.
"For example, Kappara Roundabout is mounded to increase the amount of soil - as there are many cables passing underneath - so you can plant decent sized trees but also because there is a reservoir there that makes it self-sufficient.
"This means that we no longer have to rely on browsers - which I am sure drivers appreciate!" he laughed.
Of course, reservoirs are not feasible everywhere. The board is suggesting that where they cannot be built - whether in new projects or in prior embellishments now being redone - irrigation pipes are laid down, leading to a lay-by so that a bowser can pull into there, link up and water the plants without disturbing the traffic. The board is also trying to keep the concept of "self-sufficiency" in mind when it comes to financing.
Revenue from the rental of hiring out public gardens like San Anton, Barrakka and Argotti will go into a fund, which will be used to embellish the gardens themselves.
"The money can also be used for mini-projects within the gardens over and above the work being done by the ELC," he explained. Being able to tap into a fund would also enable the board to, so to speak, put its money where its mouth is.
The ELC looks after all the arterial roads and most of the public gardens but also gets contracts from local councils, as is the case in Mellieha.
"We do not interfere in council projects; as the monitoring board we only get involved in arterial road projects. However, if I see an area that is not looking good, we often call the mayor up and bring it to his attention, whether the area is being looked after by the ELC or not," he said.
"You have to realise that there are many important areas that are not arterial roads. In St Julians, the only part that is an arterial road is where you turn off the Regional Road to enter Paceville. The rest is council. In Sliema, believe it or not, there are no arterial roads."
Mr Calleja believes that the monitoring board and the ELC work well together.
"We don't always agree but we always find a compromise," he said.
"We don't have the resources to come up with designs ourselves but I have to say that their designs are good. We do change them sometimes, taking into account the line of sight of drivers, for example. So we might suggest that plants are moved further in from the road or that smaller trees are used. We work closely together as our expertise complements theirs."
Key figures
• The agreement between the government and the four horticulture companies making up the Environment and Landscapes Consortium was recently extended for another five years.
• The government is investing around Lm3 million a year to improve the country's environment.
• During the past year, the consortium planted 3,800 trees, 67,400 bushes and plants and 439,500 flowers.
Leading by example
Years ago, Palazzo Ferreria, one of the most beautiful buildings in Valletta, had window boxes bursting with colour. No longer. Why doesn't the government lead by example?
Mr Calleja was too tactful to comment, saying only that cost has always to be borne in mind.
"The solution would be to get in a private contractor who knows what they are doing so that you face a reasonable cost to get started but then get long-term results.
"The biggest problem is window-boxes - even in the UK they need to be watered twice a day in the summer - and they need to be changed twice a year if you want to get the 'wow' factor. But if you are prepared to go ahead with it, you can get marvellous results," he said.
Castille controversy
Should they go or should they stay? If it were left to Mr Calleja, the trees directly in front of Auberge de Castille would be removed.
"The idea of removing them has not been dropped completely. I only got involved in this debate a few months ago but if I had my way, they would go. They are damaging the foundations.
"Two of the trees are ficus, the most invasive type you can get. We already had to prune one of them because it was quite sick and needed drastic action. The other one on the corner has deep roots. I shudder when I think what is going on out of sight.
"These ficus could easily be transplanted to Ta' Qali. The other species there are very hardy and can be removed. They are fast growers and quite common.
"The trees could be replaced with nice, small shrubs, turf and some red geraniums," he said.
Let's face it: In the beginning, the focus was on adding instant colour through seasonal plants. It is only as time went on that projects were tackled in a more holistic way with long-term impact taken into account. And even though turf might make an immediate impact, plants take a few years to come into their prime.
"The monitoring board is trying to encourage more perennials. So for example, instead of putting down 1,000 stock plants, we are suggesting dwarf oleanders, or other similar perennials, which would be there to stay. They need pruning, fertilising and cleaning, but at least they are in flower for a much longer time," he said.
Indeed, the board does keep "value for money" in mind, going for plants that last as long as possible - such as geraniums that can bloom for up to a year, compared to stocks that only have a realistic life-span of six months.
The trend is also to go for smaller areas of seasonal plants, interspersed between trees and shrubs. This is particularly noticeable in the approach roads to Valletta, where people commute on a daily basis and therefore need a bit of a change.
"St Anne Street in Valletta is a nightmare because there is so much pollution and heat. In fact, we recently removed the geraniums, which were starting to look shabby. Our contractor has just replenished the soil with mushroom compost and we will then probably plant marigolds, which are very cheap and will provide a touch of colour until it is time to plant red geraniums again," he said.
In other areas, like Regional Road and Valley Road, the emphasis in much more visibly on perennials.
"On the St Paul's Bay bypass, all the main areas have been planted with dwarf oleanders and other perennials. By the beginning of summer they will be in flower and weather permitting will remain in bloom all through till October next year," he said.
"The skate park at Tal-Qroqq will also have a very strong element of trees and shrubs.
"A few weeks ago, we planted the area around the Paul Boffa monument in Valletta with Carissa, the Natal plum, and some lovely hibiscus with yellow flowers. In the past, there were two changes of seasonal plants every year. Now the perennials are there to stay and only a quarter as many seasonal plants will be used to give it a splash of colour."
The projects also take labour costs into account. It may take as long to put in a cheap plant as an expensive one but planning means that less time is spent afterwards on weed-control and irrigation.
Weed mats are being laid down which allow water and air to pass through but which stifle weeds. These are covered with mulch made by ELC itself from shredded prunings.
All the new projects - such as those at Xemxija, Kappara Roundabout, Civil Aviation Road in Luqa, and Zebbug - have built-in reservoirs, either beneath the plants or adjacent.
"For example, Kappara Roundabout is mounded to increase the amount of soil - as there are many cables passing underneath - so you can plant decent sized trees but also because there is a reservoir there that makes it self-sufficient.
"This means that we no longer have to rely on browsers - which I am sure drivers appreciate!" he laughed.
Of course, reservoirs are not feasible everywhere. The board is suggesting that where they cannot be built - whether in new projects or in prior embellishments now being redone - irrigation pipes are laid down, leading to a lay-by so that a bowser can pull into there, link up and water the plants without disturbing the traffic. The board is also trying to keep the concept of "self-sufficiency" in mind when it comes to financing.
Revenue from the rental of hiring out public gardens like San Anton, Barrakka and Argotti will go into a fund, which will be used to embellish the gardens themselves.
"The money can also be used for mini-projects within the gardens over and above the work being done by the ELC," he explained. Being able to tap into a fund would also enable the board to, so to speak, put its money where its mouth is.
The ELC looks after all the arterial roads and most of the public gardens but also gets contracts from local councils, as is the case in Mellieha.
"We do not interfere in council projects; as the monitoring board we only get involved in arterial road projects. However, if I see an area that is not looking good, we often call the mayor up and bring it to his attention, whether the area is being looked after by the ELC or not," he said.
"You have to realise that there are many important areas that are not arterial roads. In St Julians, the only part that is an arterial road is where you turn off the Regional Road to enter Paceville. The rest is council. In Sliema, believe it or not, there are no arterial roads."
Mr Calleja believes that the monitoring board and the ELC work well together.
"We don't always agree but we always find a compromise," he said.
"We don't have the resources to come up with designs ourselves but I have to say that their designs are good. We do change them sometimes, taking into account the line of sight of drivers, for example. So we might suggest that plants are moved further in from the road or that smaller trees are used. We work closely together as our expertise complements theirs."
Key figures
• The agreement between the government and the four horticulture companies making up the Environment and Landscapes Consortium was recently extended for another five years.
• The government is investing around Lm3 million a year to improve the country's environment.
• During the past year, the consortium planted 3,800 trees, 67,400 bushes and plants and 439,500 flowers.
Leading by example
Years ago, Palazzo Ferreria, one of the most beautiful buildings in Valletta, had window boxes bursting with colour. No longer. Why doesn't the government lead by example?
Mr Calleja was too tactful to comment, saying only that cost has always to be borne in mind.
"The solution would be to get in a private contractor who knows what they are doing so that you face a reasonable cost to get started but then get long-term results.
"The biggest problem is window-boxes - even in the UK they need to be watered twice a day in the summer - and they need to be changed twice a year if you want to get the 'wow' factor. But if you are prepared to go ahead with it, you can get marvellous results," he said.
Castille controversy
Should they go or should they stay? If it were left to Mr Calleja, the trees directly in front of Auberge de Castille would be removed.
"The idea of removing them has not been dropped completely. I only got involved in this debate a few months ago but if I had my way, they would go. They are damaging the foundations.
"Two of the trees are ficus, the most invasive type you can get. We already had to prune one of them because it was quite sick and needed drastic action. The other one on the corner has deep roots. I shudder when I think what is going on out of sight.
"These ficus could easily be transplanted to Ta' Qali. The other species there are very hardy and can be removed. They are fast growers and quite common.
"The trees could be replaced with nice, small shrubs, turf and some red geraniums," he said.