Nature Trust - FEE Malta Wied Ghollieqa

Nature Trust - FEE Malta Wied Ghollieqa Wied Għollieqa is a Protected Area found between the University of Malta and San Ġwann (Kappara).

It is managed by Nature Trust-FEE Malta in agreement with the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA). Wied Għollieqa Nature Reserve is designated as a Bird Sanctuary (since 2003), a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) of National Importance (since 2005), an Area of Ecological Importance and Site of Scientific Importance (since 2009) and a Tree Protection Area (since 2011).

09/06/2026

Dear kindly note below . Nature Trust - FEE Malta is the NGO managing Wied Ghollieqa.

Good morning! Work continues on the removal of the allelopathic Acacia saligna stand on the eastern boundary of Wied Għo...
01/06/2026

Good morning! Work continues on the removal of the allelopathic Acacia saligna stand on the eastern boundary of Wied Għollieqa🪓🪵.

This will be replaced by a Quercion ilicis and Pistacio lentisci-Rhamnetalia alaterni matrix woodland. Here's a quick rundown on the biodiverse habitats of Wied Għollieqa:

🌳 Fraxino angustifoliae-Ulmenion minoris: We are actively favoring this Mediterranean riparian elm forest over the Oleo sylvestris-Paliuretum spinae-christi thickets. This allows us to create a more harmonised riparian habitat suited to our long-term water management goals.

🌳 Oleo-Ceratonion siliquae: This ancient carob arborescent matorral forms a dense maquis dominated by the venerable carob tree. Our main challenge here has been removing uncontrolled Cardiospermum halicacabum and Rubus ulmifolius growth.

🌳 Periplocion angustifoliae: This semiarid deciduous relict low matorral is an open woodland dominated by the rare Sandarac gum tree brought back from the brink of local extinction. 🇲🇹 🌳

🌳 Pistacio lentisci-Pinion halepensis: This Thermo-mesomediterranean Aleppo pine forest acts as a meta-climax community that directly precedes the Mediterranean oak woodland.

🌳 Pistacio lentisci-Rhamnetalia alaterni: This low-grown matorral and garrigue features a shrubby layer reaching up to five meters high and serves as a precursor to oak woodlands.

🌳 Quercion ilicis: This mesic evergreen oak forest represents an old-growth woodland dominated by the Holm oak alongside a variety of creepers.

Stay tuned as we shape this urban woodland into a thriving sanctuary for local biodiversity! 💚

26/05/2026

Another White Poplar (Populus alba) sapling in the ground today. 💦🌳 This is a good time of year to uproot Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum). Manually pulling up those thick creeping stolons that trail just beneath the surface to send down aggressive roots really is the only way to permanently eradicate this w**d.

🌿 As you can see from our newly opened woodland paths, we are breathing new life into the valley. By giving our native s...
26/05/2026

🌿 As you can see from our newly opened woodland paths, we are breathing new life into the valley. By giving our native species the space and resources they need, the ecological balance is being restored. 💦🌳

🇪🇺 🇲🇹 🇺🇳 Thank you to our amazing volunteers and Institutional Partners Environment Resources Authority for your amazing contributions and support.

Fantastic to see recent clearing efforts of this ancient country lane sparking a natural recovery, with Mediterranean Sm...
15/05/2026

Fantastic to see recent clearing efforts of this ancient country lane sparking a natural recovery, with Mediterranean Smilax (Smilax aspera)—one of our two native climbing species recolonizing the pathway to provide cover and food for local wildlife.

​With the footpath finally accessible, the next phase begins. Our teams will be restoring the historic collapsed rubble walls (selħiet) and aggressively clearing out invasive alien species at the valley access points, specifically targeting Lantana camara, Prickly Pear (Opuntia), and the smothering Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum).

Credit goes to our amazing Spanish students who have been doing a grand job over the last two months! 🇪🇸 🇪🇺

Step by step, we are giving this ancient valley back to native nature! 🌍💚

💧 Spotlight on Rare Habitats: Riparian Woodlands! 🌿Wied Għollieqa might look dry right now, but heavy rains transform it...
13/05/2026

💧 Spotlight on Rare Habitats: Riparian Woodlands! 🌿

Wied Għollieqa might look dry right now, but heavy rains transform its valley bed into one of Malta's rarest and most vital ecosystems: the Riparian Woodland (Masġar tal-Qiegħan).
Here is what thrives in this unique, moisture-loving habitat:

🌳 Our valley banks support rare native trees like Ash (Fraxxnu) and White Poplar (Luq). Just behind this sign, you'll also spot a massive ancient Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) beautifully intertwined with Common Ivy (Hedera helix)—a signature co-species partnership that creates a rich micro-habitat for local wildlife!
🐸 Painted Frog (Żrinġ): Malta’s only indigenous amphibian! They rely heavily on these fragile watercourses, making habitat protection vital for their survival.
Emperor Dragonfly (Mazzarell): One of Europe's largest dragonflies (up to 75mm!), these master aerial hunters patrol the valley looking for prey.

🚯 These ancient ecosystems are incredibly fragile. When visiting our Special Area of Conservation, please stay on the paths, leash your dogs, take your litter home, and never disturb the flora or fauna. Let's keep this habitat thriving! 🌍💚

Wied Għollieqa SAC is managed by Nature Trust - FEE Malta with financial support provided by the Environment & Resources Authority (ERA). 💦💚🌳

🌿 Nursery Notes: Ancient Landscapes! 🌿For those of you interested in ancient landscapes, today's update is for you! We a...
07/05/2026

🌿 Nursery Notes: Ancient Landscapes! 🌿

For those of you interested in ancient landscapes, today's update is for you! We are tracking the progress of our new saplings in the tree nursery, and as they put out their beautiful, healthy foliage, it’s the perfect time for a deep-time ecology lesson.

🔬 Nature Notes from the Past: Did you know that Malta's valleys were once thick with lush riverine trees? Long before early human agriculture took its toll, the Maltese Islands hosted complex forest habitats.

Charcoal analysis from Skorba provides evidence for carob, hawthorn and ash in the early Neolithic (Trump 1966, cited in Farrell, Hunt, & Coyle McClung, 2020, p. 74). Combined with pollen records, this proves our valleys once supported deep, humid canopies of moisture-loving trees!

By propagating and planting these riparian saplings, our dedicated teams are working to restore the ecological memory of our islands to reconstruct these ancient habitats.

Now, over to you. Take a close look at these uniquely shaped leaves. 👇 Do you know what species these are? Answers in the comments below! 🌳✨

Further References:

Farrell, M., Hunt, C. O., & Coyle McClung, L. (2020). Chapter 3: The Holocene vegetation history of the Maltese Islands. In C. French, C. O. Hunt, R. Grima, R. McLaughlin, S. Stoddart, & C. Malone (Eds.), Temple landscapes: Fragility, change and resilience of Holocene environments in the Maltese Islands (Vol. 1, pp. 73-113). McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research.

ERA - Environment & Resources Authority
Nature Trust - FEE Malta

06/05/2026

We would like to thank a Kappara Resident for alerting us about a fire beneath the Pine trees with Wied Ghollieqa which is a Tree Protected Area. This happened yesterday evening Tuesday 5th May.

Site manager Steven Calascione quickly went on site and the fire was put out with the help of Security from University of Malta. The consequences would have been much greater if the fire went out of control.

We kindly ask and Kappara Residents and San Gwann Residents to keep vigilant and inform us through messenger should they see a fire and call the CPD on 2393 0000

Thanks are due to the EPU, Civil Protection Malta University of Malta and ERA - Environment & Resources Authority for their support.

🌿 Our vital work at Wied Għollieqa continues! 🌿Our team has been hard at work on the ground, rolling up our sleeves to c...
06/05/2026

🌿 Our vital work at Wied Għollieqa continues! 🌿

Our team has been hard at work on the ground, rolling up our sleeves to clear away accumulated waste and tackle invasive species. It’s tough, hands-on work, but very necessary if we are to restore ecological balance in this beautiful space.

Why are we doing this? We are actively rehabilitating the valley to prepare it for something truly special: a reconstructed riparian habitat. 💧🌱 🪲🐦‍⬛🐞🐜💚 🦎🦅

ERA - Environment & Resources Authority
Nature Trust - FEE Malta

Our "take-make-dispose" lifestyle is burying us in anthropogenic waste. In Malta alone, we generate over 353,000 tonnes ...
02/05/2026

Our "take-make-dispose" lifestyle is burying us in anthropogenic waste. In Malta alone, we generate over 353,000 tonnes annually, with a staggering 79% dumped straight into landfills (2024 data). We must break this destructive cycle.

The circular economy offers a powerful lifeline: treating discarded items as untapped resources rather than useless garbage. This upcycled zinc boiler-turned-bin recovered from our nature reserve proves a vital point. True sustainability doesn't demand high-tech innovations; it begins with reimagining the potential in our very own backyards.

ERA - Environment & Resources Authority
Nature Trust - FEE Malta

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Car Park 1, University Of Malta
Msida
MSD

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+35621313150

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