English Version :
The historical building at the Romeo Romano Gardens is being given a new lease of life thanks to an agreement reached between the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise and Nature Trust – FEE Malta.
As the first phase of the garden’s restoration by GreenServ – WasteServ’s subsidiary – is nearing completion, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli announced that the groundsman’s house will be transformed into an educational centre focusing on the environment.
The building, being restored through a €1 million investment, will also include a sensory garden intended for children with autism.
Minister Dalli presided over the signing of an agreement between GreenServ, Parks Malta, the entity that will maintain the restored gardens, and Nature Trust – FEE Malta, the e-NGO running the national Ekoskola programme.
The agreement will give students a hands-on opportunity to learn about nature protection and sustainability.
“This building was originally planned to be a kitchen garden restaurant, but after we took note of the public’s concerns, we identified a new use for it, one that brings people closer to nature. The restoration of this garden, which had been neglected for many years, and now its new education centre, are testament to this Government’s determination to continue improving the quality of life of our families,” stated Minister Dalli
“As the 2023 Budget confirmed,” Miriam Dalli added, “next year we will continue working on the €700 million, seven-year programme to create more new green open spaces in all localities.”
Richard Bilocca, WasteServ’s CEO, said that the garden’s building, which originally served as the gardener’s residence, will be restored, and adapted for educational activities. The building, known as ‘ir-razzett’, will also feature an exhibition of old agricultural tools, a green roof and a meteorological station.
Vincent Attard, Executive President of Nature Trust FEE, welcomed the repurposing of the building into a hub for educational programmes. Through this building, the organisation will reach out to the entire community, and not only to children.
The first phase of the Romeo Romano Gardens rehabilitation will be ready in December. It includes maintenance and restoration works in parts of the garden that had been closed to the public for many years.
Earlier this year, GreenServ completed another two new green open spaces, Victor Calvagna Garden in Mosta and the Misraħ is-Sebgħa ta’ Ġunju 1919 rooftop garden in Ħamrun. Through Parks Malta and Ambjent Malta, the Environment Ministry also developed or upgraded more gardens in other localities.
Maltese Version
MALTA, ĊERTEZZA U STABBILTÀ: Il-Gvern se jittrasforma l-binja storika fi Ġnien Romeo Romano f’ċentru t’edukazzjoni għat–tfal ta’ Ekoskola
Il-bini storiku fi Ġnien Romeo Romano se jingħata ħajja ġdida permezz ta’ ftehim bejn il-Ministeru għall- Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża u NatureTrust – FEE Malta.
Hekk kif GreenServ, sussidjarja ta’ WasteServ, waslet biex tlesti l-ewwel fażi tar-restawr ta’ dan il-ġnien, il- Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli ħabbret li binja storika li fiha kien jgħix il-ġardinar tal-istess ġnien, se tinbidel f’ċentru edukattiv b’enfasi fuq l-ambjent.
Il-binja, li qed tiġi restawrata b’investiment ta’ €1 miljun, se tinkludi wkoll ġnien sensorjali maħsub għat-tfal bl- awtiżmu.
Il-Ministru Dalli ppresediet l-iffirmar ta’ ftehim bejn GreenServ, Parks Malta, l-entità li se tkun qed tieħu ħsieb dan il-ġnien meta jitlesta r-restawr, u Nature Trust – FEE Malta, l-għaqda mhux governattiva li tmexxi l- programm nazzjonali Ekoskola. Il-ftehim se jagħti lill-istudenti l-opportunità biex jitgħallmu b’mod prattiku dwar il-ħarsien tan-natura u s-sostenibbiltà.
“Dan il-bini kien oriġinarjament ippjanat li jkun kitchen garden, iżda wara li smajna t-tħassib tal-pubbliku, identifikajna użu ġdid għalih, fi proġett li se jkun qed iressaq lin-nies eqreb lejn in-natura. Ir-restawr ta’ dan il- ġnien, li kien ilu mitluq għal ħafna snin, u ċ-ċentru edukattiv il-ġdid tiegħu, huma xhieda tad-determinazzjoni ta’ dan il-Gvern li jkompli jtejjeb il-kwalità tal-ħajja tal-familji tagħna,” qalet il-Ministru Dalli.
“Kif ikkonferma l-Baġit 2023,” żiedet tgħid, “is-sena d-dieħla qed inniedu l-programm ta’ seba’ snin ta’ €700 miljun biex noħolqu aktar spazji ħodor ġodda fil-lokalitajiet kollha.”
Richard Bilocca, Kap Eżekuttiv ta’ WasteServ, qal li l-bini tal-ġnien, li oriġinarjament kien iservi bħala r- residenza tal-ġardinar, se jiġi restawrat u adattat għall-attivitajiet edukattivi. Il-bini, magħruf bħala “ir-razzett” se jkun fih ukoll wirja ta’ għodod agrikoli antiki, saqaf imħaddar u stazzjon meteoroloġiku.
Vincent Attard, President Eżekuttiv ta’ Nature Trust, laqa’ l-pjan li dan il-bini jinbidel f’ċentru għal programmi edukattivi. Permezz ta’ din il-binja, l-organizzazzjoni se tilħaq lill-komunità kollha, u mhux biss lit-tfal.
L-ewwel fażi tax-xogħolijiet fi Ġnien Romeo Romano se tkun lesta f’Diċembru. Din se tinkludi xogħlijiet ta’ manutenzjoni u restawr f’parti mill-ġnien li kienet ilha għal ħafna snin magħluqa għall-pubbliku.
Aktar kmieni din is-sena, GreenServ inawgurat żewġ spazji ħodor ġodda oħra, Ġnien Victor Calvagna fil-Mosta u Misraħ is-Sebgħa ta’ Ġunju 1919 fil-Ħamrun. Permezz ta’ Parks Malta u Ambjent Malta, il-Ministeru għall- Ambjent żviluppa jew tejjeb ukoll aktar ġonna f’lokalitajiet oħra.