Requiem For 295 Trees: Santa Luċija ‘Funeral’ Will Be Held Tonight For Threatened Woodland
If you want to make your voice heard against the uprooting of trees at the Santa Luċija jogging track, you can attend the ‘funeral’ being held this evening.
A group of activists, under the banners of ‘Save Santa Luċija Open Spaces Network’ and ‘Extinction Rebellion Malta’, will convene at 8pm at the jogging track and is inviting concerned citizens to join them.
In keeping with the spirit of a funeral, they are inviting people to wear black and to bring candles and torches with them. Pro-environment earthly songs will also be sung, and people have been invited to submit their musical recommendations.
A visual representation of the Santa Luċija tunnels project
Some 295 trees in Santa Luċija will be removed and a further 254 transplanted to surrounding areas as part of a project to construct underground tunnels connecting Addolorata Hill with Tal-Barrani Road
To compensate for this loss, Infrastructure Malta has pledged to plant 597 new indigenous trees along the project route and redesign the jogging track.
However, critics are concerned at the impending loss of yet another green area. Santa Luċija resident Catherine Polidano yesterday said that several people from nearby and afar visit the jogging track, not only to jog but also to relax and refresh their body and mind.
“They come with children and peers to lighten spirits and strengthen social bonds,” she said. “In today’s stressful way of life, common citizens, especially those who do not own a garden, vitally rely on the tranquillity that such a public green area can provide for free.”
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