Eucalyptus trees cut down

Allow me to retell a simple but dramatic story.

About 80 years ago, an 11-year-old boy from Kirkop was heading to his father’s fields to weed onions. He was carrying on his shoulders an empty sack and a small weeding hoe. Somewhere where the menhir lies today was a gigantic oleander tree. When this boy came by this tree he grabbed the hoe and gave a slight blow to this tree. This boy was arraigned in court by a policeman who was on site. He was sentenced to four days’ imprisonment.

Three weeks ago the last two eucalyptus trees in Kirkop planted about 45 years ago by the British forces were chopped down by the Kirkop council. The residents have shown their disagreement over this barbaric act. I tried to contact the Malta Environment and Planning Authority asking whether permission had been granted regarding this but to date I have had no reply.

I believe that although eucalyptus trees are not endemic and are not legally protected they should not have been cut down as they were giving a service to Kirkop residents who used to seek shelter underneath them from the scorching sun.

I hope that the authorities will ensure that these things do not happen again.