Newly-weds find fertile ground for green idea

Instead of handing out traditional wedding souvenirs, a young eco-friendly couple decided to plant 40 trees.

Many newly-weds had already taken up the idea of donating part of their monetary gifts to charitable organisations but Gayle and Thomas Dimech, who tied the knot in June, chose to "go green".

Yesterday, just outside the National Park in Ta' Qali, they planted the first of the 40 olive trees which they bought for €500 from the cash gifts they received.

The couple celebrated their wedding ceremony at the Phoenicia Hotel, Floriana, and promoted their novel idea among their wedding guests. In fact, one of the olive trees was taken to the hotel with a 34U poster promoting trees as gifts.

Those who attended the wedding were given a bookmark promoting the cause.

"Together we are making our island a better place to live in," it read, in the hope other couples would follow their lead and take up a similar initiative.

The bookmark replaced the souvenirs and customary thank-you notes.

The Dimechs also practise waste separation, make their own compost (and have tried several different methods), and don't leave any equipment on stand-by.

"Every little helps. We try to reduce, reuse and recycle when and where possible," Mr Dimech said.

Weddings generate a lot of waste, with a lot of food thrown away after the reception, for example. He feels weddings create a negative impact on the environment, even though society may not be immediately aware of this.

Mr Dimech commended Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino who, on finding out about the couple's initiative, encouraged and helped them to promote it.

Since its onset some four years ago, the 34U campaign has planted roughly 120,000 indigenous trees across Malta, ranging from olive and sandarac gum trees to tamarisks and għorgħar.

For more information on 34U, call 2295 2333 or e-mail 34U@gov.mt.