10,000 tulips from Amsterdam

Dutch ambassador Joachim Rienk Wilton yesterday donated 10,000 tulip bulbs to Malta, to be planted in public areas.

Mr Wilton presented the buds to Environment Minister George Pullicino on behalf of the EU's Dutch presidency at the Independence Gardens in Sliema.

The tulips should be also planted on the Castille roundabout in Valletta, on the sides of the War Memorial in Floriana, the Ta' Qali national park, the Marina Gardens in Msida, and at San Anton Gardens. Mr Pullicino thanked the Dutch government for its gesture and said the donation would enhance Malta's public places. He said the government has embarked upon an ambitious programme of embellishment and afforestation, and 2,000 trees that have been donated by the Italian government should arrive in the next few days. Italy should give Malta 8,000 trees over the next two years.

The minister also appealed for widespread participation in this year's Clean Up the World Campaign which will be held today and tomorrow. He praised the efforts of various entities and mentioned the activity organised by the Mellieha Primary school for which more than two skip-loads of waste were removed in just under an hour. Sliema mayor Albert Bonello du Puis, local councillors and students from different schools in Sliema were present. A symbolic planting event took place after the presentation.