The Ta’ Bloq area hosts the largest known population of the native and endangered terebinth or turpentine tree (skornabekk), which is found intermixed with other trees particularly carobs (ħarrub), hybrid hawthorn (żagħrun), olive-leaved buckthorn (żiju) and large specimens of the lentisk or mastic tree (deru).
An extensive maquis exists on the rocky valley sides of Wied il-Kbir valley system, known as Għar Ħanzir. This area is dominated by carob trees, large specimens of the olive-leaved buckthorn and the Mediterranean buckthorn (alaternu).
However, the most important and quite large tree species in the area is the critically endangered and very rare common sumach (xumakk tal-konz), only known from this area in the Maltese islands.
The area was declared a nature reserve in 2001 and a special area of conservation of national importance in 2006.
Mepa declared this site as a tree protected area on May 24 in accordance with the provisions of the Trees and Woodlands Protection Regulations (2011) as per Government Notice number 473/11.