The Miżieb woodland was made accessible to the public by hunters who cleaned up the area and installed picnic benches following a 1986 agreement with the government, hunter Romina Cuschieri recalled yesterday.

Contrary to claims by “Birdlife and their friends”, the government had entrusted the hunters’ federation (FKNK) with the Miżieb hunting reserve in an agreement reconfirmed in 2011 after being recognised by the Director of Land, she said. These documents were available in court, she said.

Under this agreement, she said, the federation was given the right to use the reserve during the hunting season and, in return, hunters had to maintain the area and keep it accessible to the public during the rest of the time.

Under this agreement, the federation was given the right to use the reserve during the hunting season

Ms Cuschieri was addressing an 8am press conference organised by the federation at Miżieb in reaction to comments made last week by the SHout – Spring Hunting Out – campaign, which accused hunters of taking over public land. The electorate will be called out to vote over whether to retain hunting in spring in a referendum on April 11.

Ms Cuschieri accused the anti-spring hunting lobby of spreading false information and explained how 325 hunters were allowed to hunt in the reserve on condition that each of them contributed to maintaining the area.

With the government’s support, she said, hunters cleaned up the area, planted indigenous trees, restored several giren (hunters’ hides), built rubble walls and installed picnic benches.

Unfortunately, Ms Cuschieri said, there was a lot of vandalism and the benches had been stolen.

In spring, Ms Cuschieri said, hunters occupied the reserve for 20 mornings, and the area was re-opened to the public in the afternoons.

FKNK president Joe Perici Calascione said the federation had not yet reached a final decision as to whether they will be campaigning for a Yes vote or to boycott the referendum to abolish spring hunting.

In a statement yesterday, SHout insisted the FKNK never produced a formal agreement for their use of the land at Miżieb.