Nature Trust - FEE Malta Wied Ghollieqa

24/10/2026

The ongoing ecological restoration at Wied Għollieqa is steadily laying the groundwork for a true Mediterranean Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) woodland. 🌿🌳

If you observe our newly planted Holm oak (Quercus ilex) saplings closely, you’ll notice a fascinating botanical trait called heterophylly. While related species like the Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera) consistently grow stiff, spiny leaves throughout their entire lifespan, the Holm oak takes a more strategic approach. Earning its name from "holm" an ancient word for holly, it produces sharp, spiny leaves primarily when young or on lower branches to deter grazing herbivores. However, as the tree matures and reaches safe heights, the foliage in its upper canopy adapts by developing completely smooth edges.

The restoration plan formally classifies Quercus ilex woodlands (within the Quercion ilicis alliance) as "Thermo-supramediterranean mesic evergreen holm oak forests". While the Holm oak is highly drought-tolerant (sclerophyllous) and adapted to dry Mediterranean summers, it is ecologically classified as "mesic" because it thrives best in environments with moderate moisture compared to the extreme drought conditions tolerated by highly xerophytic (arid) garrigue scrub.

Establishing these robust, late-successional woodlands requires tremendous effort, and we owe a massive thank you to our dedicated volunteers who are actively planting and tending to these saplings out in the field. 🙌

This scientific conservation work is managed by Nature Trust - FEE Malta and is made possible through the continuous support of ERA - Environment & Resources Authority, APS Bank and Eden Leisure Foundation. Together, we are rebuilding our natural heritage. 💚

15/10/2026

Great things are happening at Wied Għollieqa! 🌿 💚

Week in and week out, our dedicated team is out in the valley, clearing invasive species, planting native trees, and working hard to restore this beautiful sanctuary for local wildlife and future generations to enjoy. This week we focused on invasive prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) and newly emerged lead tree (Leucaena leucocephala) from various locations throughout the site. 🎍

We also set up a new liquid ferment station within the nursery utilizing coffee grinds generously provided by the Eden Leisure Foundation. This is absolutely critical because our native terra rossa soils, while packed with essential minerals, are naturally very low in organic content. This ferment will provide the perfect organic boost to help our young saplings thrive. 🙌

Wied Għollieqa is managed by Nature Trust - FEE Malta in collaboration with ERA - Environment & Resources Authority who provide us with funding. Thank you to APS Bank for your invaluable support. 🙌

Together, we are making a real difference. 🌳 ✨

12/10/2026

Autumn Colors and Restoration at Wied Għollieqa 🍂🌳

As the seasons shift, Wied Għollieqa is taking on the rich, warm colours of autumn. Amidst the changing foliage, our hands-on conservation work continues at full pace!

Today, our efforts have been heavily focused on site preparation and habitat restoration. By clearing invasive growth and managing dense vegetation, we are actively preparing and securing newly opened areas within the valley. These carefully cleared zones are being primed for our upcoming native tree-planting schedule, ensuring our young saplings have the optimal space and conditions to take root.

Every cleared pathway and nurtured zone brings us one step closer to a more resilient, biodiverse oak woodland. A big thank you to our dedicated volunteers for helping us protect and restore our valley's natural heritage! 💚 🌿

Wied Ghollieqa is managed by Nature Trust - FEE Malta with funding from ERA - Environment & Resources Authority and APS Bank.

08/10/2026

Did you know that not all native plants are easy to manage during ecological restoration? ⚖️

Take Hyparrhenia hirta, an autochthonous (native) grass species naturally established across our reserve. Regionally, it is increasingly associated with the Penniseto setacei–Hyparrhenietum hirtae association, a mixed perennial grassland community. While H. hirta plays a highly beneficial role in stabilizing soil and preventing erosion, it presents a significant challenge for our active reforestation efforts. 🌳

When left unchecked, grasses have a tendency to develop dense tussocks and excessive cover, becoming overly dominant in the landscape. This dominance reduces local biodiversity and physically suppresses the growth of young trees. 🌱

To give our newly planted Holm oaks, Lentisks, and Mediterranean buckthorns the best possible start, we are carefully clearing the immediate establishment buffers around each of our 65 planting stations. 🌳🌳🌳

This ensures our future oak woodland has the space, water, and resources it needs to thrive! 🌳💚

Wied Ghollieqa is managed by Nature Trust - FEE Malta and funded by ERA - Environment & Resources Authority and APS Bank.

03/10/2026

Thrilled to partner with the Malta ESG Alliance and the Consultative Council for Future Generations for a tree-planting event. It was an incredibly positive and energetic session, driven by a wonderful group of five young ladies who rolled up their sleeves and got straight to work. 🖖🏻 🌍

Over the two-hour session, the team successfully planted a beautiful mix of native species to strengthen our local biodiversity:

🌳 Holm Oak (Quercus ilex / Ballut)
🌳 Mediterranean buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus / Alaternu) 🍃
🌳 Lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus / Deru)

We also want to give a shoutout to HSBC Malta for supporting this initiative and our hardworking volunteers, Maxim and Rosalie, who were on-site bright and early. 🧤⛏️

Every tree planted brings us one step closer to a more resilient ecosystem! 🌳💧

Wied Għollieqa is managed by Nature Trust - FEE Malta with funding from the ERA - Environment & Resources Authority and APS Bank.

30/09/2026

30/09/2026

🍄 The Hidden Architects of Our Valleys: Fungi and Soil Health

🍄 At Wied Għollieqa and Wied Ħarq Ħammiem, our ecological restoration efforts extend far beyond the visible woodland canopy. True ecosystem resilience starts from the ground up, relying on a critical balance between tree vitality and soil health. At the heart of this equilibrium are fungi, the ultimate ecosystem engineers.

🍄 In our restoration toolkit, carbon-rich woodchips retain soil moisture, buffer against extreme heat and provide an ideal substrate for fast-acting saprotrophic fungi, such as the tentatively identified Inkcap (Coprinoid sp.) pictured below. These fungi act as natural recyclers, secreting enzymes that break down complex lignin and cellulose. Through this process, they convert raw woody biomass into bioavailable nutrients and rich organic humus, fundamentally accelerating soil regeneration and combating aridification.

🍄 Similarly, fungi play a crucial role in the natural life cycles of our mature trees. The delicate wood-decay fungus (likely a Mycena sp.) seen emerging from the bark of a Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) is slowly breaking down localized deadwood. This slow decomposition process safely recycles nutrients back into the root zone, ensuring that nothing is wasted within the valley's circular economy, while leaving the healthy, living tissue of the tree intact.

🍄 By fostering active, healthy fungal communities through strategic soil conditioning and biomass management, we ensure our native woodlands have the resilient, nutrient-dense foundation they need to thrive.

⚠️ Important Note: While these fungi are vital for woodland health, many wild mushrooms are highly toxic. For your own safety, please admire them where they grow and never pick or eat mushrooms found in the wild.

👨‍👩‍👧 Wied Għollieqa is managed by Nature Trust - FEE Malta with funding from ERA - Environment & Resources Authority and supported by APS Bank.

28/09/2026

A glorious morning downpour at Wied Għollieqa providing our native flora and thirsty saplings with a much-needed dousing. 🌱 🌧️ 🌿

Despite the heavy showers, the lower valley bed remains quiet, by design! 🛑💧 Hydrological flows only cascade down into the valley once our retention pond hits the 0.5-metre mark. ⚖️ 📐 By holding the water back, we give it time to seep into the soil, encouraging deep root hydration both around the pond and further downstream once the flow begins. 🍁 🌳

Every drop counts as we work toward building a stronger, more resilient ecosystem! 🌍 🌳

Wied Għollieqa is managed by Nature Trust - FEE Malta with funding from ERA - Environment & Resources Authority and APS Bank. 🌟

27/09/2026

🦇 Did you know bats are the only true flying mammals?

Bats play a vital ecological role in Malta, finding essential shelter in wooded areas like Wied Għollieqa! Here is a quick breakdown of why these nocturnal locals are so important and why they need our help:

🦟 Natural Pest Control: All local bat species are essentially insectivorous! They sleep during the day and use ultrasonic echolocation to hunt for bugs at night.

🛑 Highly Vulnerable: Bats reproduce very slowly, normally having just one offspring per year. They also hibernate in winter, so any disturbance forces them to waste precious energy needed to survive instead of conserving their food reserves.

⚠️ Under Threat: Their roosting and feeding habitats are often lost, modified, or disturbed. The indiscriminate use of insecticides also wipes out their food supply, and some individuals are even captured, persecuted, or killed by humans.

🛡️ Strict Legal Protection: Under Maltese and international law, bats are strictly safeguarded. They are protected through the Environment Protection Act, the Bern Convention, the Bonn Convention and its EUROBATS Agreement, and the EU Habitats Directive. This makes it illegal to disturb, capture, kill, keep, sell, or trade any of these species. Malta has even designated several Natura 2000 sites specifically to safeguard important bat habitats! 🌳 🪾 🦔

🌿 🇲🇹 📸 Pictured below: The Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) and Schreiber's Bent-winged Bat (Miniopterus schreibersi), just two of the incredible legally protected species recorded from the Maltese Islands!

Wied Għollieqa is managed by Nature Trust - FEE Malta with funding from ERA - Environment & Resources Authority and APS Bank.

26/09/2026

Habitat restoration requires a number of different elements all working together to ensure native ecosystems have the ideal foundation and resources they need to thrive. One of these elements is soil management. 🌼 🍃

The team worked hard to manually remove the invasive Mirabilis jalapa/longifloria (Four o'clock flower / Ħummejr) to release vital soil nutrients. 🧤 🌿 We also cleared access paths to ensure safe accessibility throughout the reserve for ongoing maintenance work. 🥾

We also transported terra rossa soils to support afforestation projects. To further enrich this, cleared plant biomass is processed through on-site wood chipping and returned to the valley as organic mulch, a crucial practice to counter aridification and increase soil carbon content. 🪵💧🪨

Did you know? The Maltese Islands feature several distinct palaeosoils (ancient soils) that tell the story of past landscapes:

✅ Terra rossa: This reddish clayey to silty clay soil is found directly on limestone surfaces and within karstified hollows and cracks. Its diagnostic red colour (rubification) comes from the preferential formation of haematite during long-term weathering of carbonate rocks in a Mediterranean climate. These soils often contain limestone core stones, powdery micro-clasts in advanced stages of disintegration, and sometimes even windblown particles from ancient African dust or local Greensand deposits.

✅ Young Cambisols & Regosols: Found in more dynamic erosional and depositional landscapes these soils represent short-lived periods of stability. They often feature calcified root channels from past vegetation colonisation but lack the deep horizon development and rubification seen in terra rossa. Regosols specifically form free-draining soils over sand deposits.

Together, palaeosoil legacies show how Malta's physical environment has constantly fluctuated between periods of landscape stability, where weathering and vegetation growth occurred, and eras of erosional and depositional instability.

Every session brings us one step closer to a more resilient ecosystem! 💪🌍 🌳💧

Wied Għollieqa is managed by Nature Trust - FEE Malta with funding ERA - Environment & Resources Authorityand APS Bank.

Further Reading:

Farres, P. (2019). Chapter 12: Palaeosoils: Legacies of Past Landscapes, with a Series of Contrasting Examples from Malta. In R. Gauci & J. A. Schembri (Eds.), Landscapes and Landforms of the Maltese Islands (pp. 141-152). Springer.