Il-Ballut tal-Imġiebaħ (l/o Mellieħa)

Il-Wied ta’ l-Imġiebaħ hosts one of the only four forest remnants in the Maltese islands, based upon very old holm oak trees (ballut).

This forest remnant is the only forest area characterised by a very closed canopy, resulting in humid conditions and limited undergrowth due to the shading abilities of the oaks' crowns. Consequently, it is rich in leaf litter and in forest undergrowth species, particularly in fungi, slime moulds and invertebrates. In fact, the species associated with this forest remnant are often either confined to this copse, or else extremely limited in distribution.

This area is also a Natura 2000 site and protected as a Nature Reserve and a Special Area of Conservation of International Importance. Mepa declared this site as a Tree Protected Areaon May 24, 2011, in accordance with the provisions of the Trees and Woodlands Protection Regulations (2011) as per Government Notice number 473/11.