If you’ve driven along the Marsa-Hamrun bypass lately you might have noticed something rather odd that you’ve never seen on the islands before – a tall wall of greenery (in process…). A very much welcomed sight!

This morning Infrastructure Malta’s Facebook page announced that 27,600 flowering plants will embellish the Marsa-Hamrun Bypass, giving the busy and heavily built location a greener look.

The green wall, which was erected in 2018, is part of a project collaboration between Infrastructure Malta and Ambjent Malta. Apart from adding a dash of greenery to our roads, the green wall will be the longest vertical garden in Malta. In fact, spreading over 350 metres, it’s the size of three football stadiums!

Due to its size and weight, the structure has been designed with the aim to reduce any possible damage to the concrete wall. And to ensure its sustainability, eco-friendly and recyclable materials were even used for its construction.

If you’re wondering whether the vertical garden will manage to withstand Malta’s hot, dry summers, we can assure you that the structure has its very own automatic drip irrigation system, ensuring that the plants stay fresh and hydrated all year round! It even has its own security cameras, so plant stealers beware…

Referring to the project, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia noted that, “Green walls provide multiple benefits in urban areas. They serve as potential ecological stepping-stones for insects and pollinators between rural and urban environments, reduce noise pollution, contribute to cooler micro-climates, reduce air pollution, and improve the experience of those who live and work in urban areas.”

The news has been taken positively, with a Facebook commentator noting - ‘Some greenery will definitely go down well in the midst of all that concrete. Well done. Hope we repeat this in other areas.’

With the success of the vertical garden, we are positive more green walls will pop up around Malta in the near future!