Buskett Gardens
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The Buskett Gardens (from Italian boschetto 'grove'), also known as Buskett Woodlands , are the largest wooded area in Malta . The park-like facility in the municipality of Si Gemeindeiewi is the only near-natural forest area on the Maltese islands of considerable ecological and landscape conservation importance, as many endangered and endemic species of the archipelago are native there. In addition, it is a popular recreational area for the Maltese population.
Topography and vegetation
The site, owned by the State of Malta, extends over a total area of 473,694.5 m² (47 hectares ) in the hinterland of the western and southwestern coast of the main island of Malta . It borders on the municipality of Dingli . In the north of the area is the Verdala Palace .
The area is divided by a natural valley in which there are well-tended citrus plantations. Deserted terraced fields and maquis stretch up the hills . The summits are wooded, here is dominated by holm oak ( Quercus ilex ), carob trees ( Ceratonia siliqua ), olive ( Olea europaea ) and Aleppo pine ( Pinus halepensis ).
On the opposite side , numerous species of herbaceous plants , including wild thyme ( thymus ), rare bulb plants and orchids ( Orchidaceae ) grow on a plateau in various microhabitats that have developed in natural hollows of the limestone . The predominant deciduous tree species are white poplar ( Populus alba ) and species from the genus of ash ( Fraxinus ) and elm ( Ulmus ).
history
I Giardini del Boschetto , as it was originally called, were laid out under the rule of various Grand Masters of the Order of Malta and expanded many times. According to contemporary manuscripts, Grand Master Jean de la Valette was the first to commission a hunting lodge there. His successors acquired more and more land and thus enlarged the property in the 200 years of the order's rule. Hugues Loubenx de Verdale hadthe Verdala Palace builtby Girolamo Cassar as a fortified summer residence and hunting lodge.
The Johanniter Fra Giovan Francesco Abela mentioned in 1647 in his work Descrizzione di Monte Verdala col Boshetto that a number of fruit trees and other decorative trees were planted in the Boschetto , especially under the reign of the Grand Master Jean de Lascaris-Castellar . According to Abela, de Lascaris also had game reserves, an irrigation system, fountains and fish ponds built. The conversion of the entire complex into a baroque garden can also largely be traced back to Grand Master Jean de Lascaris-Castellar. He also initiated the construction of an impressive flight of stairs at the Verdala Palace, which leads to a dead straight avenue, which connects the palace with the gardens to this day.
The water art and four Maltese farmhouses on the site were restored in the 21st century and returned to their former state. However, some fountains and smaller buildings were demolished during the British rule (1800–1964).
fauna and Flora
In addition to their cultural and historical significance of the Buskett Gardens are an important refuge especially for wood-loving species, such as insects , lice and arachnids , which occur only there in the Maltese Islands.
Types of particular importance include:
- Narrow-leaved ash ( Fraxinus angustifolia ), the only wild population on the island can be found here
- White willow ( Salix alba )
- the crown cupling ( Sarcosphaera coronaria ) occurs only here on the Maltese islands
- Painted disc beak ( Discoglossus pictus ), the only amphibian species in the Maltese archipelago
Historic buildings
- Tal-Għorof Farmhouse
- Tal-Bagħal Farmhouse
- Valley-Ispirtu Farmhouse
- Tal-Bosk Farmhouse
These four Maltese farmhouses were built during the reign of the order and were used as accommodation for gardeners and other servants.
Within the Buskett Gardens, there are also archaeologically significant evidence: a Punic catacomb, cart ruts from the Bronze Age, underground flour mills and the hunting lodge of Grand Master Jean De Valette from later times.
administration
The Buskett Woodlands are managed by Ambjent Malta , a semi-governmental organization for nature conservation. This operates and maintains the gardens and the forest area as well as the buildings in them.
Protection status
The Buskett Woodlands are recognized as a Natura 2000 area , they are protected by the Republic of Malta as both a Site of Community Importance (SCI) and a Special Protection Area (SPA). This makes them one of the areas with the highest landscape conservation and ecological importance on the Maltese islands.
literature
- Giovan Francesco Abela: Descrizzione di Monte Verdala col Boshetto. In: Giovannantonio Ciatar (ed.): Malta illustrata. Giovanni Mallia, Malta 1772, p. 221 ff. ( Full text in the Google book search)
Web links
- Buskett Woodland. Ambjent Malta , 2016, accessed January 25, 2020 (main source for this article).
- Buskett Garden at www.malta.com, accessed January 25, 2020
Coordinates: 35 ° 51 ′ 33 " N , 14 ° 23 ′ 56" E