ENVIRONMENT: The “triq taċ-ċawsli” will soon be lost

Some people thought that the drought of the past months was the reason why most of the mulberry trees in Bormla Road, or what is commonly known as “it-triq taċ-ċawsli”, have remained bare and without leaves.

Last week we have inspected these trees and unfortunately what we have found was much worse than the thought drought.  Most of the trees have been attacked by borer beetles (susa) and already killed a considerable number of trees.  Most of these trees are along the Żejtun part of this road and unfortunately some were the most large in size.

These trees are of historical value and were planted by the British, Irish and Colonial Silk Company in 1826, almost two hundred years ago, when this company embarked on a national project to start the production of silk in Malta.

Wirt iż-Żejtun took immediate action on the matter and reported this matter to the Plant Health Directorate asking them to put all their effort and try to save the remaining trees urgently.  Almost  half of the trees seem to be already infected.

We are informed that the Zejtun Local Council is also following up this matter and a report was also filed from their end.

We hope that the “triq taċ-ċawsli” wouldn’t be lost for ever.