The foundation of Din l-Art Ħelwa Mellieha

Officials from Din l-Art Ħelwa, DLĦM, and the Mellieħa Local Council. Norwex Malta Ltd sponsored the tree planting event.

A newly planted ħarruba, a carob tree.

Above: Din l-Art Ħelwa president Professor Alex Torpiano, Mayor of Mellieha, Dario Vella, together with Albert Attard and Daniela Cilia, co-founders of DLĦM, plant their tree, one of the 100 trees planted to mark the event.

Right: Din l-Art Ħelwa president Professor Alex Torpiano and cofounder of DLĦM Albert Attard sign the agreement establishing the new Regional Committee.

The Foundation of DIN L-ART ĦELWA MELLIEĦA

In a captivating area of natural beauty in the region of Mellieħa, in February a tree planting celebration took place to mark the foundation of Din l-Art Ħelwa’s first regional committee through the joining up of the long-established heritage organisation with the voluntary group For A Better Environment Mellieħa.

This move will boost nature and heritage protection in and around Mellieħa, with a strong hands-on presence in the popular beach town which is now fast becoming a prominent residential area of Malta with a population that more than doubles in the summer months.

Din l-Art Ħelwa, now in its 55th year, is already present in the area, having restored major landmarks such as the Red Tower which is open regularly to the public, and the White Tower. It also helped to establish natural habitats at Foresta 2000, and is part of the Heritage Parks Federation that manages the Majjistral Nature and History Park in the North West of Malta.

Professor Alex Torpiano noted that the setting up of this regional committee, Din l-Art Ħelwa Mellieħa (DLĦM), was a bold new step for the organisation. Through the energy and drive of the new committee, the mission of the organisation can reach a bigger audience.

Albert Attard, co-founder of DLĦM, said that the missions of the two groups were aligned – the protection of nature and the quality of life brought about by a healthy and clean environment, and the defence of built heritage through restoration and upkeep. Mellieħa has the longest coastline in Malta, a proliferation of heritage monuments and wild open spaces with a variety of biodiversity that deserve looking after. The new Mellieħa committee will organise regional events and activities, such clean ups, tree-planting, restoration projects and initiatives related to the marine environment.

During the launch, 100 trees were planted to symbolically commemorate the union. Volunteers of the two organisations came together and in the presence of the Mayor of Mellieħa, Dario Vella, and Mellieħa Local Councillors, participated in this satisfying and fun occasion. The event was made possible with the support of Norwex Malta. n