The nature reserve at Wied Għollieqa on the outskirts of San Ġwann should be cleaner and safer because closed-circuit security cameras and new bins are now in place, according to an environmental group.

Security cameras were installed in the valley and some were already active, especially after a number of vandal acts over the years, Nature Trust Malta, which manages the nature reserve in Kappara, said.

It welcomed the donation of a number of outdoor bins by SR Environmental, a company specialising in environmental products, which will be placed around the nature reserve. The bins will be installed at the entrance points “in the hope this will get the public to collect their waste and dump responsibly before leaving the protected site,” Nature Trust executive president Vincent Attard said. He pointed out that the amount of rubbish left by picnickers was “amazing” and appealed to the public to be responsible and leave it clean for others to enjoy. In a recent clean up, over 30 big garbage bags of waste were collected, he said.