Why The Constantly Trimmed Tamarisk Trees On Sliema Front Need To Be Replaced
The Sliema Front provides a long and continuous space for pedestrians in one of Malta’s busiest towns but there is a problem with its trees.
You may have noticed the trees on the Sliema Front being continuously trimmed, leaving them very unappealing and lacking life.
Lovin Malta reached out to Astrid Vella, co-founder of the environmental NGO Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, to gather her insight on the situation and the way forward.
Vella noted that the trees on the Sliema front are Tamarisk Trees and are clearly not suitable to line the promenade as was previously believed.
FAA co-founder Astrid Vella
This is because growing them as a “standard” is forcing them into an unnatural shape, meaning they then require radical grooming which causes them to never form a wide head, resulting in a lack of shade in the hot summer months.
Vella suggested a more viable option – the Metrosideros Excelsa, which can withstand wind and sea spray, two important considerations that must be made for the area.
This species also grows a wide head, providing plenty of shade in the summer months and a more visually appealing promenade. Another benefit it has over the Tamarisk is that it blooms twice a year with red bottle brush blooms, which would add colour and character to the Sliema front.
Metrosideros trees have already been planted in St Julians and the Birgu Waterfront and the decision has proven beneficial, with the trees thriving in their new environment.
Vella also criticised the planting of Wirth Pencil Cyprus trees in ground planters in Sliema’s Dingli Street, warning they do nothing to bring greenery and shade in densely built-up urban areas.
As an alternative, she proposed Judas trees, which do not have dangerous roots and which form very a pretty umbrella-shaped head, crowned with spring flowers in spring and shade in summer.”
Cover photo: Left: The trees on the Sliema front, Right: Stock photo of a Metrosideros Excelsa
Do you agree that a change is needed?
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