Spazju aħdar ġdid f’Ħ’Attard miftuħ għall-pubbliku
L-inawgurazzjoni ta’ Ġnien tal-Fuklar f’Ħ’Attard jirrappreżenta pass ieħor pożittiv fir-riġenerazzjoni tal-ispazji miftuħa f’pajjiżna. Il-proġett trasforma sit li qabel ma kienx jintuża u kien mimli konkrit f’ġnien pubbliku li jsaħħaħ il-kwalità tal-ambjent tal-madwar.
Dan il-proġett ġie inawgurat mill-Ministru għall-Ambjent u l-Enerġija Miriam Dalli flimkien ma’ membri tal-kunsill lokali ta’ Ħ’Attard u t-tim ta’ Project Green.
Ġnien tal-Fuklar jinsab għaxar minuti mixi għal aktar minn 7,000 resident, u joffri spazju aħdar li jinkludi fih ir-rikreazzjoni u l-integrazzjoni soċjali. Dan il-proġett tejjeb il-kundizzjonijiet ambjentali filwaqt li ħoloq spazju li huwa faċilment aċċessibbli għall-komunità lokali.
“Proġetti bħal dawn juru kif ir-riġenerazzjoni urbana tista’ tkun prattika, imkejla, u ffukata fuq il-bżonnijiet ta’ kuljum tar-residenti. Permezz ta’ aċċessibbiltà aħjar u t-tħawwil ta’ aktar siġar, qed nagħmlu użu aħjar mill-ispazju limitat filwaqt li nsaħħu l-kwalità ambjentali tal-ibliet u l-irħula tagħna. Dan huwa eżempju ċar ta’ kif l-azzjoni ffukata fuq il-ħtiġijiet tal-lokalità tista’ twassal għal benefiċċji reali għar-residenti fil-viċinanzi tagħhom,” qalet il-Ministru Miriam Dalli.
Ix-xogħlijiet ta’ riġenerazzjoni kienu bbażati fuq il-prinċipji ta’ responsabbiltà ekoloġika u użu fit-tul. Is-siġar u l-arbuxxelli kollha eżistenti ġew ippreservati biex jinżamm il-valur ekoloġiku ta’ dan il-ġnien. Żoni pavimentati bil-konkrit ġew skavati sa fond ta’ metru u mibdula b’ħamrija addatata, li ppermettiet it-tħawwil ta’ 25 siġra u 283 arbuxxella oħrajn. Ġie introdott pavimentar permeabbli biex jitjieb l-assorbiment tal-ilma u jnaqqas it-tnixxija tal-ilma, kif ukoll żoni fejn in-nies jistgħu jpoġġu bilqiegħda u żoni għad-dell jappoġġjaw użu regolari u estiż tal-ġnien.
L-aċċessibbiltà u l-konnettività kienu elementi kruċjali matul il-proġett kollu. Il-passaġġi madwar il-ġnien, inklużi dawk li jwasslu lejn iż-żona tal-laqgħat tal-anzjani, ġew iddisinjati biex ikunu mingħajr ostakli. Żewġ ġonna oħra eżistenti ġew konnessi ma’ dan il-ġnien permezz ta’ pavimentar Porfido, u b’hekk tejbu l-passaġġ għall-persuni li jkunu qed jagħmlu l-mixja tagħhom filwaqt li dan l-ispazju jintegra aħjar mal-ambjent tal-madwar.
Karatteristiċi addizzjonali bħall-gazebo u strutturi tal-kannizzati jappoġġjaw it-tkabbir tal-pjanti u jipprovdu żoni għad-dell fejn jiltaqgħu n-nies. L-ispeċi tal-pjanti ntgħażlu biex jappoġġjaw il-bijodiversità, filwaqt li l-ilma għall-irrigazzjoni jiġi provdut minn ġibjun eżistenti, biex jiġi żgurat użu aktar sostenibbli tar-riżorsi. Dawn l-interventi flimkien itejbu kemm il-prestazzjoni ambjentali kif ukoll il-funzjoni soċjali tal-ġnien.
Is-Sindku ta’ Ħ’Attard Stefan Cordina rringrazzja lill-Ministeru u Project Green “tal-għajnuna kbira għal-lokalità tagħna, li minnha se jgawdu r-residenti.”
A new green space in Attard opens for the public
The inauguration of Ġnien tal-Fuklar in Attard represents another positive step in the regeneration of spaces in our country. The project transforms a previously underutilised, concrete-heavy site into a functional and ecological public garden that strengthens the quality of the surrounding environment.
This project was inaugurated by Minister for the Environment and Energy Miriam Dalli together with members of the Attard local council and the Project Green team.
Located within a ten-minute walk for over 7,000 residents, Ġnien tal-Fuklar offers a welcoming green space for recreation, social interaction, and everyday use. By reclaiming a neglected area, the project improves environmental conditions while creating a space that is easily accessible to the local community.
“These projects show how urban regeneration can be practical, measured, and focused on everyday needs. By improving accessibility and planting more trees, we are making better use of limited space while strengthening the environmental quality of our towns and villages. This garden is a clear example of how targeted action can deliver real benefits for residents within their immediate neighbourhood,” Minister Miriam Dalli said.
The regeneration works were guided by principles of ecological responsibility and long-term use. All existing trees and shrubs were retained to preserve the site’s established ecological value. Concrete-paved areas were excavated to a depth of one metre and replaced with suitable soil, allowing for the planting of an additional 25 trees and 283 shrubs. Permeable paving was introduced to improve water absorption and reduce surface runoff, while seating and shaded areas support regular and extended use of the garden.
Accessibility and connectivity were key considerations throughout the project. Pathways across the site, including those leading to the elderly meeting area, were designed to be barrier-free. Two existing gardens were linked through Porfido paving, improving pedestrian circulation and better integrating the space with its urban surroundings.
Additional features such as a gazebo and trellis structures support climbing plants and provide shaded areas for gathering. Plant species were selected to support biodiversity, and irrigation water is supplied from an existing reservoir, ensuring a more sustainable use of resources. Together, these interventions enhance both the environmental performance and the social function of the site.
The Mayor of Ħ’Attard, Stefan Cordina, thanked the Ministry and Project Green “for the great help to our locality, from which residents will benefit.”