Nature Trust Malta said today that “vandals broke into Xrobb L-Ghagin Park this weekend and uprooted and stole over 170 newly planted trees including those planted by VIPs just one month ago as part of the NGOs 50th anniversary celebrations.

“Trees stolen include those of the President of Malta, Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition. Furthermore the vandals broke into a store-room in the same park and stole various equipment including tools, wheel burrows and pipes used for the maintenance of the trees.”

Nature Trust (Malta) said that it “condemns such cowardly acts. Such incidents go against society since this park is for the general public to enjoy and for future generations to inherit. The NGO will now be replacing all the trees taken. This will be carried out after the hot summer months to ensure a higher survival rate.”

Xrobb L-Ghagin Park is opened everyday from 8am till noon on weekdays and from 8 am till 5 pm on weekends and public holidays. Since the first year of opening in 8 April 2011, over 5000 students have visited the park to learn about the environment and sustainable development. Furthermore over 3000 visitors have been enjoying the park at weekends.

NTM said that it was considering on extending the open hours now that the conservation project was near completion but unfortunate it is evident that there are still people out to vandalise anything. Only two months ago another NTM managed site – The Wied Ghollieqa Nature Reserve witnessed a vandal attack with the culprits spraying graffiti on restored rubble walls and overturning a few in the process.

Nature Trust said it appeals to anyone having information on the recent vandal attack to contact the police so as the culprits can be brought to justice. The NGO is now planning to install more CCTV at Xrobb L-Ghagin Park. A police report has also been filed.

Youth for the Environment also issued a statement today saying that it “would like to express its extreme disappointment at the recent act of theft committed at Xrobb L-Ghagin. The nature park was broken into and over 170 trees were stolen. This is a great pity, especially as many individuals, organisations and entities, including Y4TE, collected funds to buy the trees,donated them to the park and personally planted them.”

Y4TE’s campaign to sponsor trees was held in Australia; called ‘Ftakar F’Gheruqek,’ it was held at the La Vallette Social Club in Sydney. The Maltese community was invited to either directly sponsor a tree in their homeland or purchase a cd of Composer, Inez Lombardo, with all the proceeds going towards the sponsorship.

“It is a great shame to see the people’s efforts to contribute to the environment being rendered futile by the selfish acts of a few,” Y4TE said.

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