While the root and branch reform of Mepa promised by the Prime Minister in the heat of the 2008 election campaign appears to be stalled, green shoots of improvement in the environmental and heritage fields nevertheless give some cause for optimism. The leadership of Mepa, even without the awaited reform, appears to be improving and there is a feeling that the bad old days before March last year should not be allowed to return. For this one should be truly grateful.

The removal of trees, which had masked the elegant and imposing façade of the Auberge de Castille, in Valletta, for so many years, has brought home to us how intrusive and unnecessary their planting there had been. The façade of this proud and important building - which houses the Office of the Prime Minister - is due to be cleaned and this will further enhance the look of what is probably the best presented corner of Valletta: the Castille quadrangle formed by the Auberge, St James Cavalier, the Stock Exchange and the Central Bank.

The next logical step should be the planned landscaping and pedestrianisation of Castille Place and the removal of the thicket of trees forming the roundabout. This simply detracts from the Auberge de Castille. An already beautiful part of Valletta will be greatly improved with its return to former glory before the detestable polluting motor-car and trees thrust themselves upon the historic landscape. Talking of vehicles, one trusts that no cars, official or not, would then be allowed to park in the open space.

There are, of course, other historic buildings to be considered. Should these also be exposed to better view by having trees planted near them removed? There seems to be a good prima facie case for doing so in the instance of the gloriously striking St John's Co-Cathedral and the Main Guard, not to mention the majestic façade of the National Library with its many and varied distractions in front of it! Yet, it would be sensible to ensure that each would be considered on a case-by-case basis. It would be foolhardy to step from one extreme to another and to remove all trees and other distractions near buildings or fortifications in Valletta. The key criteria for deciding the best way forward should be the historic value of the building and the aesthetic architectural gain to be obtained from exposing it to view.

Valletta is poorly served by trees and we must beware a wholesale culling in the city. There is, indeed, a need to ensure that the principal gardens of Valletta - its only lungs - are well-planted with trees. In this respect, it was good to learn that 10 trees would be planted for every one removed from Castille Place.

Although not connected to the issue of the trees' removal in Valletta, another cause for optimism is the government's decision to reduce the height of rubble walls in the countryside, which have exceeded the permissible height. This is an admirable initiative and no more than the enforcement of the regulations requires. Malta's austere countryside is characterised by tiny, burnt-sienna fields enclosed by low rubble walls. If the walls were not kept low the already fairly limited vistas in the countryside would be further obscured to everybody's detriment.

While not in themselves earth-shaking initiatives, the selective removal of intrusive trees to expose historic buildings to better view and the enforcement of the law on low rubble walls are indicative of regulatory authorities which care. This is to the good.