Mdina ditch being transformed into 'quality garden'
Video: Mark Zammit Cordina
The Mdina Ditch is being upgraded and landscaped to be transformed into a quality garden.
Works on the ditch were this morning visited by Resources Minister George Pullicino, who said this was only one of a series of projects through which space was being passed back on to the community.
The ditch, he said, was previously inaccessible and parts of it were accessible to just a few people. It was now being reopened for everyone as a quality garden.
None of the trees were lost, they have been increased in number but rearranged so as to help one get a better understanding of the bastions’ dimensions, the minister said.
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Raymond Sammut
Sep 19th 2012, 00:45
Inspite of all the grumbling below, and all the bickering for more car parking (disgusting) on Malta -- let alone right next to an ancient/medieval city -- the construction of this garden is surely very long time in coming.
Previous Maltese government ministers deserve to be sued through class action for denying the enjoyment of public spaces that had been the natural right of citizens all along.
Stephan Micallef
Sep 19th 2012, 10:31
A whole parking area has been taken to plant some of these trees. Havent you thought about Imdina residents and workers and other visitors. It is already very difficult to find a parking space at Rabat, and guess what...we keep reducing the parking areas. It is not the first time that I go to work about 50 minutes earlier and drive through all the Rabat streets and Mdina outside remaining parking areas until I find a parking space. And guess what, I still arrive 30 minutes late sometimes. Do I really have to go 1.30 hrs earlier to find a parking area???? Apart from that there was no urgent need for this garden, because right on top of the ditch there is a large garden which has been lately restored and next to it a playground.
Anna Spiteri
Sep 19th 2012, 10:50
dear editor, there seems to be a great misconception on the island what constitutes a garden....certainly George has demonstrated that he does not have the faintest idea!!...but surely the rest of us know that a public space is always..always..defined with abundant and flourishing greenery!!
And not concrete paths and hacked trees!
Raymond Sammut
Sep 19th 2012, 11:39
@ Stephan Micallef
Living inside Mdina does not give one the right to park a car inside Mdina. Historically, Arabs did not build medinas for motor cars or for anything which is motorized. A medina was typically designed for men and women who lived and enjoyed a slow, quiet and simple way of life.
The Maltese government should be penalized big time by the EU for having allowed so much damage to be caused by so many cars driven in and out of this unique world heritage city, over so many decades and at times at very high speeds -- the latter I witnessed myself as a small boy.
As to the Rabtin -- it's entirely their problem. They should not have grown and sprawled like rabbits so as to overload their ancient and historical town. I have no sympathy for them whatsoever. They are a greedy, progressive, and destructive lot, just like everybody else in the modern world.
S Scerri
Sep 19th 2012, 00:17
Why is it that only in Malta a significant surface area of any so-called garden is covered in concrete or paving?
Does anyone care that the tennis court was one of the oldest hard courts in Europe? Oh no, just rip it up, who cares.
What about the beehives that existed at the far end of the ditch (beneath the Panorama restaurant). This government apiary used to carry out invaluable research on local bees, in a relatively undisturbed area. Where are they now?
E. Curmi
Sep 19th 2012, 09:48
Dear Mr Scerri
I am sure we all agree the dilapidated tennis court was definetely an eyesore and was slightly out of place. The propsed garden will be enjoyed by maltese and tourists alike and will definetely complement with its surroundings
Ray Pisani
Sep 19th 2012, 00:09
CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS 'DEAD GARDEN'
Amazing what can be done with the taxpayers money.
One of the greenest and most attractive areas in Malta lost forever, like this government
the garden is now soulless, decadent and without character.
Keep up the good work George!
Your mark is being left in Malta forever, unfortunately!
Ray Pisani
George Farrugia
Sep 18th 2012, 21:51
But why haven't the fortification around this garden been cleaned before work on the garden proper started>
The whole idea behind this sizable expenditure is to see the fortifications in all their glory...something I whole heartedly support.
But looking at them with all the blemishes of the vegitation that is continually damaging them... is not exactly what I expect to see.
Can the minister or some of his experts please enlighten us?
Francis Raeymaekers
Sep 18th 2012, 20:51
C. Bonnici
Malta couldn't possibly afford me! Meanwhile I recommend you visit the Library in Valletta and try to find the following book:
Gardening in Sunny Lands (The Riviera, California, Australia) by Mrs Philip Martineau, published by
D. Appleton and Co., New York 1924.
Books, especially old ones, are a wonderful source of knowledge...
Saviour Sam Agius
Sep 18th 2012, 20:33
Sabiħ ħafna s-siment.
Anna Spiteri
Sep 18th 2012, 19:53
What an soul destroying picture. I don t understand ...the original orange orchard 'was' a lovely garden. All it needed was some tidying up and some benches and low and behold it could be opened to the public to enjoy!
yes, our ministers are very poor in spirit and certainly in vision!
joseph cassar
Sep 18th 2012, 19:50
About time
Ivan Scicluna
Sep 18th 2012, 18:24
George is one of the few Nationalist MP's who really cares about Malta. I wish there were more like him.
Anna Spiteri
Sep 18th 2012, 20:23
yes Ivan, I cannot imagine what the rest of the MPs are like!
S Scerri
Sep 18th 2012, 22:58
Cares so much that all the trees in Sliema Qui si Sana and Mellieha were pulled up and not replaced. Cares so much that Ta' Xbiex promenade has been turned into a road extension. Cares so much that the free animal clinic has been turned into a commercial enterprise .... need I go on?
Francis Raeymaekers
Sep 18th 2012, 18:03
In my experience, the Maltese know as much about gardening as a gold fish knows about medium rare roast beef! When it comes to Maltese politicians, you know, the ones that hire contractors to prune trees with chain saws, or prune olive trees in August ( olive trees should be carefully pruned once the night time temperature falls to 12 degrees centigrade ) I rest my case. All odd job men, that never bothered to read the manuals.
C. Bonnici
Sep 18th 2012, 18:51
Go on, get involved Francis. Malta needs experts like you to move forward. We look no further... We are waiting for your services!!!!!!
Anna Spiteri
Sep 18th 2012, 20:18
apologies Francis, they do not know what they are doing and saying....I share your sentiments...in Senglea they are planning to remove a line of trees that have been there since my childhood ...this is a part of a project to embellish the marina in Senglea..meaning removing of trees and causing all kinds of havoc for a few months by dumping concrete on us..starting with breaking up a perfectly undamaged wide promenade....(the road needs the tarmac but not the promenade)..this is a big sin for us..using structural funds money heedlessly...1.8 million euros!....breaking up what is perfectly in good condition whilst ignoring the roads in other parts of Senglea that need redoing...who is planning this? who is gaining from this destruction? We have a right to know! Why are we as citizens being bulldozed? our voices are being totally ignored?
Saviour Sam Agius
Sep 18th 2012, 21:02
We know more about cementing than about gardening. Look, there's more cement than trees in this "quality garden".
For an even better example of Maltese cementing, I suggest the garden in Fgura. There's one tree and a whole load of cement. Brilliant.
stephen mifsud
Sep 18th 2012, 17:28
im a lobour supporter but i like George he is doing a great job i wish he would move to the LP .
C. Bonnici
Sep 18th 2012, 18:52
Possibli !!! Il labour mghandhom lil hadd bhal George!!
Guido Farrugia
Sep 18th 2012, 19:15
i'd move out instant.
John iNGUANEZ
Sep 18th 2012, 16:47
Well done for the garden. What about the capers bushes on the bastion? And where can I park if I wanted to go to a restaurant or a bar nearby? This complaint has already been raised by the restaurateurs.
E. Curmi
Sep 19th 2012, 09:51
There is ample parking..most probably if a small fee is introduced there will be more patking spaces available !!
Karl Brincat
Sep 18th 2012, 16:29
excellent work !!
Jay Oatmon
Sep 18th 2012, 16:22
to Jeremy Azzopardi:
You are probably a teenager and so you object but if you don't beleive me, then read this (the facts speak for themselves) this government document from the USA:
http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-3310/AGEC-9448web.pdf
Jeremy Azzopardi
Sep 19th 2012, 10:55
As a matter of fact I am 25. I just feel that you are generalising here, and I feel offended. I work, pay my taxes, try to respect those around me and their property, and here you come with your sweeping statements implying that all of Malta's youth are just a bunch of vandals with too much time on their hands.
I read the pdf linked by you and understand your point: young people tend to engage in vandalism more than their elders. Fair enough. But then remember this: you were young once, so by your reasoning, you were probably a vandal as well.
For every kid out there that is vandalising something, there are many others who are studying, meeting friends, having fun responsibly, engaging in sports, and so on.
I agree that most vandalism is done by youths. But I take offense at your comment
"A good initiative - however in the vandalism/graffiti youth culture of Malta, CCTV with recording is necessary. If this is not done you will see the inevitable vandalism and wanton destruction of trees seats etc."
A few people committing such acts of vandalism (probably repeatedly) does not make a whole age group part of a "vandalism youth culture".
Mary Fisher
Sep 18th 2012, 16:16
Near Mdina there is already a lovely quality garden - Howard Gardens. Yes, the ditch needed tidying badly but not to the extreme that it has by now. A few majestic trees have been destructed and what do we need this symmetrical garden for? What Mdina and Rabat and their many visitors need is car park space. The football pitch would have been ideal for that and it would not have taken anything from the enhencement of the Old Capital's entrance. WAIT FOR IT NOW - DID EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THE ONLY TWO DECENT CAR PARKS OUTSIDE MDINA are being privatised and one (EVEN THE LOCALS WHO LIVE AROUND AND ABOUT) ARE BEING MADE TO PAY? This is still under serious discussion and I sincerely hope that it will not happen. It is no use embellifying the Old Girl and then preventing people from visiting her bacause they have no access. Will TM think and think again and again? It is not too late to turn the clock slightly back. There is a lovely cloister in Mdina but we do not want the Citta' Vecchia to be cloisterised.
Joe A. Borg
Sep 18th 2012, 16:07
This is called "Soil capping" with 20% of the sitebeing put under cement. So now to add insult to injury, we will add turf all over the place and water the place all the year round.
But please do not tell me that the water reservior being built on the on the left hand side to the Mdina entrance is enough to water such a vast area?
And what about the Bidet?
Maria Vassallo
Sep 18th 2012, 16:05
Prosit......Prosit......Prosit!
Grazzi......Grazzi......Grazzi!
Min ghandu l-ghali jkompli jzidu!
Mishut l-ghajjur!
Guido Farrugia
Sep 18th 2012, 19:16
Diska wahda, ghamad totali
Charles Muscat
Sep 19th 2012, 01:21
Amen.
Lawrence Fenech
Sep 18th 2012, 15:26
A quality garden with trees shrubs and kappar growing all over the bastions. Halluna first thing first.
E. Azzopardi
Sep 18th 2012, 14:53
This was a very good idea, but would have been an EXCELLENT one had the football ground not also been turned as part of the new garden.
We already have a quality garden, which is quite big, on top of this one. Why two quality gardens next to each other? So the football pitch should have been turned into a car park and not part of the garden. That part of Rabat already has a huge parking problem and this ground would have eased this problem to a big extent.
Now it is too late.
A M Bonello
Sep 18th 2012, 15:59
Yeah right a car park so some guy becomes a car park attendant and rips us off and swears at us if we don't pay him.
Mr Daniel Jones
Sep 18th 2012, 14:49
What about the 2 large mature cypresses which have been run over by a bull dozer and just left semi uprooted and dying? They have certainly been lost. Maybe the minister didn't walk around the corner from where this was filmed.
Approximately 10% of the trees are dead or dying. There is certainly nothing 'quality' so far about this development. But then why let the truth get in the way of a politician's spin.
Anna Spiteri
Sep 18th 2012, 20:01
Daniel, what is quality for us is not quality for the ministers..we have different standards...and theirs is way below...I cannot find another reason besides the rush to spend the remaining structural funds before the elections!
Stefano Briffa
Sep 18th 2012, 14:44
As one might notice, the bastions around Mdida are being restored. Well done so far. However most bastions that are along this 'QUALITY GARDEN' are not yet restored. I guess these will be restored after the garden is inagurated (just befor the general election obviously) damaging and dirtying the QUALITY GARDEN making it inaccessible again.
What about planning it right Dr. Pullicino and not inagurating completed projects just before the election?!!!!
Jay Oatmon
Sep 18th 2012, 14:37
A good initiative - however in the vandalism/graffiti youth culture of Malta, CCTV with recording is necessary.
If this is not done you will see the inevitable vandalism and wanton destruction of trees seats etc.
Jeremy Azzopardi
Sep 18th 2012, 15:35
Sure, sure, blame the young people... Do you see any of this vandalism in Howard gardens above? Those damned young people are a horrible lot, aren't they? I wonder who raised them... I guess your generation was composed only of saints.
Mr Duncan Scerri
Sep 18th 2012, 14:34
Quality like the crazy paving in Valletta?
Bring on the election, so we can get rid of this incompetent lot.
John Zammit
Sep 18th 2012, 14:57
Passing on the pavement of some of the streets you don't believe they were done just a few months ago (some even weeks) part of St John street and another in st Lucai are already full of fuel
Jon Vercellono
Sep 18th 2012, 15:18
I doubt many PL supporters would support a ban of cars in Valletta (to prevent spoilage of the pavings). Especially the PL supporters living in the capital.
D Borg
Sep 18th 2012, 14:27
the usual doublespeak by George Pullicino...
the trees have increased in number he says, when what actually happened was mature trees were uprooted (read practically condemned) and new MUCH SMALLER sapplings planted.
Also an extensive area previously covered by soil has now be paved over....maybe the minister will care to advise who was the lucky supplier? and how much was he paid from our taxes?
Jeremy Azzopardi
Sep 18th 2012, 15:38
Exactly... Most 'regeneration' projects seems to revolve around paving large areas and removing vegetation. Then they proceed to ban dogs, bicycles, skateboards, roller blades.... We'll have just another boring paved area with a row of trees on the edges....
Mr Louis Bartoli
Sep 18th 2012, 14:16
I just would like to ask Mr Pullicino where will people who wish to visit these gardens park? Rabat has a big parking problem and the only open space which served also as a football ground, has been taken over.
A. Sciberras
Sep 18th 2012, 14:10
Since when does the uprooting and destruction of established trees and vegetation including olive trees qualify as upgrading?
Chris Borg
Sep 18th 2012, 14:08
What about parking spaces?
C Cassar
Sep 18th 2012, 15:34
What about them? Surely you're not suggesting that any of this space should be set aside for parking? There are too many cars on Malta's roads and the only way to reduce those numbers is to reduce parking spaces.
Use the bus network.
Pavlaki Pano Aroditis
Sep 18th 2012, 14:02
Absolute balderdash. The orange trees were transplanted at the wrong time with the result that many died; and the design must have been sketched out by someone who had absolutely no idea of gardens: The Douglas fir to the right of the entrance may soon die because of a reduction of its irrigation footprint and it is also abundantly clear that as its base is now covered by concrete, its dead leaves will now clutter the tiled area. Any idiot knows that you don't tile below a large tree unless you want to spend your time sweeping up dead leaves.
Quality garden indeed! Much more a photo-shoot designed for tourism brochures. And let's not talk about the reduction in parking. The Minister had better think of a new pedestrian bridge for the hordes of tourists that block up the main entrance, or exercise his grey matter to tackle the massive problems caused by coaches selfishly and inconsiderately hogging every available inch to deliver tourists at its doorstep and blocking traffic. If the Minister took any Italian tour he would soon realise at what great distance tourist coaches deposit their passengers.That is much more ecological. Clearly too the Minister must have lost his sense of smell. The entrance positively reeks of horse urine. Mr Minister, use your eyes and your nose, and a bit of your intelligence too, instead of blowing your trumpet. Thank you.
Peter Midler
Sep 19th 2012, 08:30
"If the Minister took any Italian tour he would soon realise at what great distance tourist coaches deposit their passengers."
Absolutely rubbish!! The coach drivers, their parking and the disorganisation I had to witness when in italy, especually southern italy was disgusting.
Talking about italians. Tell it to the marines Mr Aroditis. If you ask me about greeks, they are worse.
Ronald Cauchi
Sep 18th 2012, 13:56
What exactly is meant by "quality garden" . i can see lots of concrete abd presumably turf as well eventually. Crazy golf anyone?
Antonio Anastasi
Sep 18th 2012, 13:43
Actually i would advise the Minister to check his facts for quite a few of the trees have been lost, including the olive tree that was on the right of the bridge as well as 3 of the 4 of the ever greens that were on the border between the football pitch and the once the beautiful orchard.
Also the ivy which was iconic to the area, and once rich in insects and pollinators like butterflies and bees has also been removed for no reason.
I Bugeja
Sep 18th 2012, 14:00
The Ivy damages the bastions which are more valuable to our island than the ivy itself. As for trees I would agree with you if this is what happened
Victor Laiviera
Sep 18th 2012, 14:40
Hype and spin has no respect for truth.
Please choose the reason of your report below: