Operation Donkey!
Judas tree vs Donkey. The battle continues.
Protecting a Judas tree from grazing local residents.
Culprits not identified. We don’t know if it’s donkeys sheep goats etc. Just a happy quadruped enjoying our Judas tree. So no vigilante needed. Hopefully chicken mesh will do the job !
Siġar loves donkeys!
#volunteering
#trees
#gozo
Well done EkoSkola Malta Ramona Mercieca
newsbook.com.mt/en/students-create-community-garden-in-ecoskola-project/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLnDwdleHR…
A very interesting article written by one of our volunteers about the role of mulch. Worth reading.
x2.timesofmalta.com/20250718/sunday-circle/gozo-growing-longer-hotter-drier/
Simon Wallace
Timely reading recommendation from #bookclubgozo
JULY 2025 -'THE BOOK OF FIRE' BY CHRISTY LEFTERI
Literary Fiction published in 2024 by Manilla Press UK. Loan copies of the book are available from #gozocentralpubliclibrary Library membership is free.
This fiction title addresses the linked impacts of climate change and the devastating consequences of wildfires on trees, forests, fragile ecosystems, and local communities. Well worth reading.
In recent weeks, extreme fire risk warnings were issued for several regions in southern Greece, including around Athens. The capital endured searing temperatures hovering close to 40 °C (104°F). The Parthenon in Athens was closed to visitors due to the soaring daytime heat.
Wildfires forced the evacuation of thousands of people across the country, including many locals and tourists on the island of Crete. A spokesperson for the Greek fire service, Ioannis Artophios, said the country is faced with "extreme phenomena" and that everyone needed to "adapt to this difficult situation." (BBC news website accessed 02/07/25).
About the book
In present-day Greece, deep in an ancient forest, lives a family: Irini, a musician who teaches children to read and play music; her husband, Tasso, who paints pictures of the forest, his greatest muse; and Chara, their young daughter, whose name means joy. On the fateful day that will forever alter the trajectory of their lives, flames chase fleeing birds across the sky. The wildfire that will consume their home and their lives as they know it races toward them….
Original book cover art by the publisher
If anyone is interested to plant in Malta!
Well done Kunsill Lokali Il-Fontana and Thomas Mizzi for watering and looking after the trees planted with Siġar volunteers.
The local council has installed irrigation timer and increased watering hours for the summer.
The planted cypresses have grown quickly.
Lantana is looking good. Many pollinators.
Second picture is LC Garden before our involvement.
Am example of a good project !
Well done Nature Trust – FEE Malta – Gozo Section volunteers for looking after the baby turtles.
#turtles
#Gozo
#volunteering
Watering in summer is a priority for Siġar volunteers.
When possible we work with schools and Local councils to install or fix their irrigation system.
We are pleased that Gozo College Dun Salv Vella Nadur Primary has upgraded their irrigation system. A new timer is in place. Set for daily watering. It will make a huge difference for their garden and trees.
Our volunteers will continue to visit and add water where needed Keith Woodcock
Well done Nadur school.
#trees
#volunteering
#Gozo
EkoSkola Malta
A very good exemple how to use mulch / konkas. Organic gardening in Gozo by a siġar volunteer.
Working with nature. Well done.
First batch of gloves and tree fridge magnets that we will give to EkoSkola Malta pupils in Gozo during for new planting events.
The Alfred Mizzi Foundation is graciously funding the “school kit”.
Looking forwards to the next planting season.
Marvic Refalo
#volunteering
#gozo
#trees
End of season for sunflowers planted by EkoSkola Malta group at Gozo College Ġużé Aquilina Primary & Special Unit Sannat watered by Brenda Shanahan.
Time to collect seeds for next season.
#gozo
#volunteering
#pollinatiors
Olive tree planted by Siġar team and looked after by Stefan Wessels is doing well. Pest control in place.
Flowers happy around.
We are continuing to monitor groasis used to plant the tree. Groasis pit funded by The Alfred Mizzi Foundation
Looking forward to more activities with Zebbug local council Baskal Saliba
#trees
#Gozo
#volunteering
The Alfred Mizzi Foundation
![Thought wed share this interesting tree-related FB post from #DwejraTower (English text followed by Maltese text)Dwejra Tower - Plant of the Month: July 2025
Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) Siġra il-virgi in Maltese.This robust, deciduous, hemispherical bush or small tree can grow up to four metres high. The leaves are aromatic, compound-palmate in shape, with 5-7 narrow un-toothed lobes and white-downy underneath.The flowers, which are seen in summer through to early autumn, are bluish-violet, occasionally pink to white in colour, around 8-10mm in clusters, and sweetly scented. The fruits are small, dark grey, and resemble peppercorns. The flowers are much visited by pollinating insects, particularly honey bees.Chaste Trees grow in water courses of valleys, especially near the sea, and can be seen on all three Maltese islands, though plant numbers are now scarce.The plant is protected by Maltese law: (Schedule I of legal notice [S.L. 549.123] (Strictly protected tree species) and currently also has a threatened status and has been listed on the Red List (1989).The fruit was believed to suppress sexual urges, hence the alternative Maltese name of Bżar il-Patrijiet (Friar’s peppercorns). In the past, the trees used to be cut down to ground level to promote the growth of thin, flexible, straight shoots for the purpose of basket weaving.
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Din is-sigra tikber f ghamla ta nofs ballun. Twaqqa il-weraq fix xitwa, dawn huma b riha qawwia, forma ta id b 5-7 swaba. Sufien min that.il-fjuri jifthu fis sajf usal harifa. Vjola fil blue, kultant bojod jew roza. Madwarr 8-10mm, f buketti u b riha tfuh. Il-frott huwa zighr, griz u jixbah il-bzar.Is-sigra tal-virgi tikber fejn ikun hemm ilma fil qiegh ta widien hdejn il bahar. Ghalkemm tinstab fil Gzejjer Maltin kollha mhix komuni.
il-frot kienu jahsbu li jakes il-gibded sesswali u ghalhekk kien maghruf ukoll bhala Bzar il-Patrijiet.Fl-antik dawn is-sigar kienu jinqataw mil-qieh biex iwaddbu frieghi dritti u irqaq li umbaght kiunu jintuzaw ghall qafas tal basktijiet.All photos by #dinlarthelwa -and best viewed in full-screen mode.#dinlarthelwaghawdex #trees #pollinators #EveryoneNeedsNature #sigar](https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/517384314_122180743958304023_8427108343338919652_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s960x960_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=cm6gdv_3OssQ7kNvwHk_P6L&_nc_oc=Adln2ISbtYF7zbJlOuzR4sYIWFmdCVklIXeoqnmMyl_qvKLQGiTJkrL2sAT5JQrJuS8&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&edm=AKIiGfEEAAAA&_nc_gid=ck3yTiyG9Z6dx8nm1a4F9g&oh=00_AfQRagXITltsRsCCbdsY91OImXD4-FUZogDcy2o-J9KIeg&oe=6880D12C)
Thought we'd share this interesting tree-related FB post from #DwejraTower (English text followed by Maltese text)
Dwejra Tower – Plant of the Month: July 2025
Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) Siġra il-virgi in Maltese.
This robust, deciduous, hemispherical bush or small tree can grow up to four metres high. The leaves are aromatic, compound-palmate in shape, with 5-7 narrow un-toothed lobes and white-downy underneath.
The flowers, which are seen in summer through to early autumn, are bluish-violet, occasionally pink to white in colour, around 8-10mm in clusters, and sweetly scented. The fruits are small, dark grey, and resemble peppercorns. The flowers are much visited by pollinating insects, particularly honey bees.
Chaste Trees grow in water courses of valleys, especially near the sea, and can be seen on all three Maltese islands, though plant numbers are now scarce.
The plant is protected by Maltese law: (Schedule I of legal notice [S.L. 549.123] (Strictly protected tree species) and currently also has a threatened status and has been listed on the Red List (1989).
The fruit was believed to suppress sexual urges, hence the alternative Maltese name of Bżar il-Patrijiet (Friar’s peppercorns). In the past, the trees used to be cut down to ground level to promote the growth of thin, flexible, straight shoots for the purpose of basket weaving.
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Din is-sigra tikber f' ghamla ta nofs ballun. Twaqqa il-weraq fix xitwa, dawn huma b riha qawwia, forma ta id b 5-7 swaba. Sufien min that.
il-fjuri jifthu fis sajf usal harifa. Vjola fil blue, kultant bojod jew roza. Madwarr 8-10mm, f buketti u b riha tfuh. Il-frott huwa zighr, griz u jixbah il-bzar.
Is-sigra tal-virgi tikber fejn ikun hemm ilma fil qiegh ta widien hdejn il bahar. Ghalkemm tinstab fil Gzejjer Maltin kollha mhix komuni.
il-frot kienu jahsbu li jakes il-gibded sesswali u ghalhekk kien maghruf ukoll bhala Bzar il-Patrijiet.
Fl-antik dawn is-sigar kienu jinqataw mil-qieh biex iwaddbu frieghi dritti u irqaq li umbaght kiunu jintuzaw ghall qafas tal basktijiet.
All photos by #dinlarthelwa -and best viewed in full-screen mode.
#dinlarthelwaghawdex #trees #pollinators #EveryoneNeedsNature #sigar
The importance of mulch.