Located in the northwest of the island and extending from Golden Bay to Anchor Bay lies Malta's first natural national park: Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park.

Protected since 2007, the park is managed by the Heritage Parks Federation consisting of three non-governmental organisations - Din l-Art Ħelwa, Gaia Foundation and Nature Trust. The area is endowed with great views and a wonderful sense of open spaces, but it is also home to many different habitats with a rich biodiversity.

Plants alone in the park add up to some 430 different species - almost half of the vascular plants known in all of Malta and Gozo - including some extremely rare and endemic species. The diversity of habitats in the park offers different conditions for plants to grow, thus enriching the variety of species therein.

The most widespread habitat is that made up of garigue - typically consisting of low-lying and often aromatic shrubs growing on sparse soil in exposed rocky areas.

This windswept land, with its deceptively 'barren' appearance in the dry season, is in reality adorned by the most exquisite flowering plants such as the complex orchids - a total of nine species have been recorded in the area. It is often in the winter and spring when most of the habitats come to life - April is a very good time to get out and enjoy Malta's biodiversity.

Over the past two years the park management has been offering guided nature walks in the park for the public, tourists and for schools or groups. The park is now organising activities in an effort to encourage awareness of natural heritage. The next activity is awalk on the morning of April 11 with local plant expert Timothy Tabone.