Majjistral Nature and History Park

Majjistral Park Online Talks: "Wildlife Rescue with Nature Trust - FEE Malta"
2021-05-26 19:00 - 20:00 UTC
The Maltese Islands may be small but they are rich in biodiversity and provide habitats to a wide variety of wildlife species.
The survival of many of these wildlife species is unfortunately threatened due to human impacts but, armed with the right knowledge we can all help to reduce (or even reverse) the harm that these impacts have.
During our next Majjistral Park Online Talk “Wildlife Rescue with Nature Trust Malta” our guest speaker Ms Angelique Lofaro from Nature Trust will be sharing this knowledge.
Topics which will be discussed:
👉 An introduction to the Wildlife Rescue team
👉 Species that can be rescued
👉 The most common injuries
👉 How people can help
👉 What to do/not to do if you encounter an injured animal
👉 Turtle nesting season
👉 What to do/not to do if you encounter a nesting turtle
👉 Questions from participants.

Details:
Date: Wednesday, 26th May 2021
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Location: Online
Price: Free

Register in advance for this meeting by clicking on the button below:

Register here!

Please note:
✔ Zoom version – Please make sure you have the latest version of Zoom before the Online Talk starts to avoid technical issues.
✔ Questions/ Comments – we will have a Q & A session at the end of the presentation. Please remain muted until then.
✔ Chat – if you would like to post your question before the presentation has ended you can post it using the Chat function.
✔ Recording – The presentation will be recorded. You will only appear in the recording if you ask a question with your video switched on.
✔ Duration – The talk should last for about an hour but may go over depending on questions.

If you have any questions about the event please email walks@majjistral.org.
Photos provided by Nature Trust – FEE Malta.

International Day for Biodiversity - Malta with Nature2020
2021-05-22 16:00 - 17:00
Majjistral Nature and History Park and BirdLife Malta would like to invite you to take part in with Nature2020 an international event to raise awareness on the importance of protecting our local nature and ecosystem.On Saturday 22nd May 2021 we will be celebrating the International Day for Biological Diversity!
Majjistral Nature and History Park together with BirdLife Malta, are aiming to give a strong message on the need to protect the diversity in our local ecosystem. This will be done by laying 500 pieces of coloured clothing on the ground which will generate a giant image from above of an endangered plant or animal species.
For Malta we have chosen the Yelkouan Shearwater.

Details:

Date: Saturday 22 May 2021
Time: 4:00 – 5:30pm
Duration: Approximately 90 minutes
Location: Online

This is where you can help!
You can participate by donating items of clothing or other textiles in specific colours to create the image. We need clothing in: WHITE, GREY or BLACK.
This is a great chance to get rid of some old clothes! We are also accepting towels, sheets and other textile garments in these colours.
Why not ask your friends and family too and donate a whole collection at once?
The drop off location for your clothes or textiles is Salina Nature Reserve, accessible on all days between 7:00am and 8:00pm.  Small collection bins labelled with each colour are outside the Visitor Centre for drop offs.
If you do choose to donate clothing, we encourage you to register on our Google Form, linked on the ‘Register here to donate your clothes!’ button below, so we can keep you up to date about the event.
By registering Birdlife Malta can also send you the links to the videos of the artworks created across the world on the day!

Spread the word with your family and friends.
Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much!

Register here to donate your clothes!

DISCLAIMER: Due to the current Covid-19 situation, the event format may be subject to change. If this is the case, clothes will still be donated to the charity. Follow our event page for updates.

My Nature Diary Painting Activity (Session 5)
2021-05-01 15:00 - 16:30
Join our Events Officer for our next Nature Diary painting activity!

Each month throughout 2021 Majjistral Park we will be hosting an online activity demonstrating how to draw wildflowers, insects, birds, mammals and more.
This month we will be drawing and painting the Loggerhead Turtle (Fekruna Komuni).
This activity is aimed at children but adults are welcome too.

Details:

Date: Saturday 1st May 2021
Time: 3:00 – 4:30pm
Duration: Approximately 90 minutes

Materials needed:
Paper*, Hole punch, Ruler, Pencil, Rubber, Sharpener, Newspaper (to protect surface from paint splatter), Paint (ideally watercolour)**, White paint (poster/acrylic/gouache), Water pot filled with water, Palette to mix paint in, Pieces of kitchen towel, Soft paint brushes (thin and medium sizes), Rough paper to test colours.

*To create the whole Nature Diary you will need 13 pieces that are the same size. The best paper to use if you are using watercolours is watercolour paper. Our Events Officer uses paper from a watercolour pad so that she doesn’t need to cut the paper. If you do not have watercolour paper thick painting paper (eg. sketching paper) should also be ok but it would be a good idea to test it first.

**Watercolour paints can be substituted with coloured pencils or poster paint but watercolour works best! Our Events Officer buys Winsor & Newton (student range) from local art shops. You do not need to buy the most expensive ones and you also do not need to buy all the colours. The main colours you need are: cadmium red, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, lemon yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow ochre, and burnt umber.

Booking: Send number of participants taking part, first names and ages to walks@majjistral.org.

Create a 3D Wildflower Garden with your own Bee for Earth Day
2021-04-22 16:00 - 17:30
Let’s learn more about bees on Earth Day!

Bees and wildflowers are vital parts of natural ecosystems – wildflowers are an important food source for bees and bees in turn pollinate trees, plants as well as our food crops!

This activity is perfect for kids who are keen to learn more about nature and who enjoy arts and crafts.

Details:

Date: Thursday 22nd April 2021
Time: 16:00 to 17:30
Location: Online (Zoom)
Duration: Between 60 – 90 minutes

Materials needed:

A list of the equipment and materials needed will be emailed when the booking is made.
This activity is aimed at children some of whom may need some help with cutting paper.

Booking & Questions: walks@majjistral.org.

Majjistral Park Online Talks: "The Yelkouan Shearwater"
2021-04-07 19:00 - 20:00
Did you know that the Yelkouan Shearwater is endemic to the Mediterranean region and that it nests at Majjistral Park?
Join us for our next Majjistral Park Online Talk – “The Yelkouan Shearwater” with our guest speaker Mr Martin Austad, Seabird Research Coordinator for Birdlife Malta.

Details:

Date: Wednesday, 7th April 2021
Time: 19:00 – 20:00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour

Topics:

Introduction to seabirds in the Maltese Islands
The breeding biology and behaviour of Yelkouan Shearwater
The threats to the bird
Past and current LIFE projects (successes and further work required)
How the general public can contribute to help this threatened bird species

We will end the session with questions from participants.

Register in advance for this meeting by clicking on button below:

REGISTER

Zoom version – Please make sure you have the latest version of Zoom before the Online Talk starts to avoid technical issues.
Questions/ Comments – we will have a Q & A session at the end of the presentation. Please remain muted until then.
Chat – if you would like to post your question before the presentation has ended you can post it using the Chat function.
Recording – The presentation will be recorded. You will only appear in the recording if you ask a question with your video switched on.
Duration – The talk should last for about an hour but may go over depending on questions.

If you have any questions please email walks@majjistral.org.

*Photo provided courtesy of Ben Metzger and Birdlife Malta.

My Nature Diary Painting Activity (Session 4)
2021-04-03 15:00 - 16:00
Join our Events Officer for our next Nature Diary painting activity!

Each month throughout 2021 Majjistral Park we will be hosting an online activity demonstrating how to draw wildflowers, insects, birds, mammals and more.
This month we will be drawing and painting the European Rabbit (Fenek Ewropew).
This activity is aimed at children but adults are welcome too.

Details:

Date: Saturday, 3rd April 2021
Time: 3:00 – 4:00pm
Duration: Approximately 1 hour

Materials needed:
Paper*, Pencil, Rubber, Sharpener, Newspaper (to protect surface from paint splatter), Paint (ideally watercolour)**, White paint (poster/acrylic/gouache), Water pot filled with water, Palette to mix paint in, Pieces of kitchen towel, Soft paint brushes (thin and medium sizes), Rough paper to test colours, Hole punch, Ruler.
*To create the whole Nature Diary you will need 13 pieces that are the same size. The best paper to use if you are using watercolours is watercolour paper. Our Events Officer uses paper from a watercolour pad so that she doesn’t need to cut the paper. If you do not have watercolour paper thick painting paper (eg. sketching paper) should also be ok but it would be a good idea to test it first.
**Watercolour paints can be substituted with coloured pencils or poster paint but watercolour works best! Our Events Officer buys Winsor & Newton (student range) from local art shops. You do not need to buy the most expensive ones and you also do not need to buy all the colours. The main colours you need are: cadmium red, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, lemon yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow ochre, and burnt umber.

Booking: Send number of participants taking part and first names to walks@majjistral.org.

*Rabbits, Painting by Tamsin Caruana

Majjistral Park Online Talks: "Unravelling the Phenomena of Bird Migration"
2021-03-10 19:00 - 20:00
We would like to invite you to a Majjistral Park Online Talk – “Unravelling the Phenomena of Bird Migration” with our guest speaker Mr Natalino Fenech.
Mr Fenech will show us some of his stunning photographs and take us on journeys to different countries to discover how fascinating bird migration is.
We will end the session with questions from participants.

Details:

Date: Wednesday, 10th March 2021
Time: 19:00 – 20:00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour

Zoom version -Please make sure you have the latest version of Zoom before the Online Talk starts to avoid technical issues.
Questions/ Comments – we will have a Q & A session at the end of the presentation. Please remain muted until then.
Chat – if you would like to post your question before the presentation has ended you can post it using the Chat function.
Recording – The presentation will be recorded. You will only appear in the recording if you ask a question with your video switched on.
Duration – The talk should last for about an hour but may go over depending on questions.

If you have any questions please email walks@majjistral.org.

*Photo provided courtesy of Natalino Fenech.

My Nature Diary with Majjistral Park (Session 3)
2021-03-06 15:00 - 16:00
Join our Events Officer for the next Nature Diary session!

Each month throughout 2021 Majjistral Park will be hosting an online activity demonstrating how to draw wildflowers, insects, birds, mammals and more.
In March we will be drawing and painting the colourful European Bee-eater (Qerd in-Naħal), a bird that should be visiting us soon in Malta during the bird migration.
This activity is aimed at children but adults are welcome too.

Details:

Date: Saturday, 6th March 2021
Time: 15:00 – 16:00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour

Booking by clicking on button below:

BOOKING

Materials needed:

Paper*, Hole punch, Ruler, Pencil, Rubber, Sharpener, Newspaper (to protect surface from paint splatter), Paint (ideally watercolour)**, White paint (gouache works best), Water pot filled with water, Palette to mix paint in, Kitchen towel, Soft paint brushes (thin and medium sizes), Rough paper to test colours.
*To create the whole diary you will need 13 pieces that are the same size. The best paper to use if you are using watercolours is watercolour paper. Our Events Officer uses paper from a watercolour pad to have to cut the paper. If you do not have watercolour paper thick painting paper (eg. sketching paper) should also be ok but it would be a good idea to test it first.

**Watercolour paints can be substituted with coloured pencils or poster paint but watercolour works best! Better quality watercolours will give better results. Our Events Officer buys hers from local art shops. You do not have to buy the most expensive ones and you also do not need to buy all the colours. The main colours to buy are: cadmium red, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, lemon yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow ochre, and burnt umber.

If you have any questions please email walks@majjistral.org.

Majjistral Park Online Talks: "Invasive Alien Flora Species"
2021-02-17 19:00 - 20:00
We would like to invite you to our online talk – “Invasive Alien Flora Species”.
The talk will be hosted by Majjistral Park with our guest speaker – Mr Sammy Vella who represents Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park and Wied Għajn Żejtuna.

Topics will include:
Main Invasive Alien Species
The harm that Invasive Alien Species do
Invasive Alien Species removal
Invasive Alien Species at Majjistral Park
Questions

Details:
Date: Wednesday, 17th February 2021
Time: 19:00 – 20:00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour

Register in advance for this meeting by clicking on button below:

REGISTER
If you have any questions please email walks@majjistral.org.
Zoom version – Please make sure you have the latest version of Zoom before the Online Talk starts to avoid technical issues.
Questions/ Comments – we will have a Q & A session at the end of the presentation. Please remain muted until then.
Chat – if you would like to post your question before the presentation has ended post it using the Chat function.
Recording – The presentation will be recorded. Please stop your video if you do not want to be recorded.
Duration – The talk should last for about an hour but may go over depending on questions.

Majjistral Park Kids – ‘My Nature Diary 2021’ (Session 2 – February)
2021-02-06 15:00 - 16:00
Join our Events Officer for the next Nature Diary session to start adding species to your February page!
Each month throughout 2021 Majjistral Park will be hosting an online activity demonstrating how to draw wildflowers, insects, birds, mammals and more.

This activity is aimed at children but adults can also join in if they want to!

Details:
Date: Saturday 6th February 2021
Time: 15:00 – 16:00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
During our second session for February we will be drawing and painting a Weasel (Ballotra), a mammal which lives in the countryside of the Maltese Islands.

Materials needed:
– Photo of the species (will be shared with you before the session)
– Paper*
– Hole punch
– Ruler
– Pencil
– Rubber
– Sharpener
– Newspaper (to protect surface from paint splatter)
– Paint (ideally watercolor)**
– White paint (I find gouache works best)
– Water pot filled with water
– Palette to mix paint in
– Kitchen towel
– Soft paint brushes (thin and medium sizes)
– Rough paper to test colours

*To create the whole diary you will need 13 pieces that are the same size. The best paper to use if you are using watercolours is watercolour paper. I bought a watercolour pad so I didn’t have to cut the paper! If you do not have watercolour paper sketch book paper is also fine. This might not be as good for painting but coloured pencils could be used.
**Can be substituted with coloured pencils or poster paint but watercolour works best! Better quality watercolours will give better results. I buy mine from local art shops. You do not have to buy the most expensive ones and you also do not need to buy all the colours. We will need: cadmium red, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, lemon yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow ochre, and burnt umber.

Booking/ Questions:
Please send an email to walks@majjistral.org.
Further instructions will be sent once you send us your details.

Majjistral Park Online Talks: “National Nature Parks for Malta - how to save our countryside”
2021-01-13 19:00 - 20:00
The talk will be hosted by Majjistral Park with our guest speaker – Mr Martin Galea from Din l-Art Ħelwa and the Heritage Parks Federation.

Topics will include:

The over development of Malta
Poor planning and lack of protection of countryside
The creation of international nature parks
A model for National Parks in Malta
The issue of private land within National Parks
The history of Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park
Plans for Majjistral Park
Questions

Details:

Date: Wednesday, 13th January 2021
Time: 19:00 – 20:00 (approximately 1 hour)

Register in advance for this meeting by clicking on the button below:

REGISTER

If you have any questions please email walks@majjistral.org.

Photo provided courtesy of Majjistral Park staff.

* Zoom version – Please make sure you have the latest version of Zoom before the Online Talk starts to avoid technical issues.
* Questions/ Comments – we will have a Q & A session at the end of the presentation. Please remain muted until then.
* Chat – if you would like to post your question before the presentation has ended post it using the Chat function.
* Recording – The presentation will be recorded. Please stop your video if you do not want to be recorded.
* Duration – The talk should last for about an hour but may go over depending on questions

Majjistral Park Kids – ‘My Nature Diary 2021’ (Session 1 – January)
2021-01-09 15:00 - 16:00
Do you know a child that is a keen nature explorer? Or would your child/children like to re-connect to Nature?
Our Events Officer thinks a fun way to do this is by creating a Nature Diary! Each month throughout 2021 she will be hosting an online activity demonstrating how to draw wildflowers, insects, birds and more.
After the online activity she will also be sharing plenty of resources and tips to help you fill up your Nature Diary with nature observations.

This activity is aimed at children aged 7years+ but they may need some help to set up at the start. You can also join in if you want to!

Details:
Date: Saturday 9th January 2021
Time: 15:00 – 16:00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour

During our first session for January we will draw and paint a European Robin, one of Malta’s wintering birds.

Materials needed:

Equipment and materials:
– Photo of species (will be shared with you before the session)
– Paper (13 pieces that are the same size)*
– Hole punch
– Ruler
– Pencil
– Pen
– Rubber
– Sharpener
– Newspaper (to protect surface from paint splatter)
– Watercolour paints**
– White paint (I find gouache works best)
– Water pot filled with water
– Sketchbook (or rough blank drawing paper)
– Palette to mix paint in
– Kitchen towel
– Soft paint brushes (thin and medium sizes)
– Rough paper to test colours

* The best paper to use if you are using watercolours is watercolour paper. I bought a watercolour pad so I didn’t have to cut the paper! If you do not have watercolour paper sketch book paper is also fine. This might not be as good for painting but coloured pencils could be used.

**Can be substituted with coloured pencils, poster paint but watercolour works best! Better quality watercolours will give better results. I buy mine from local art shops. You do not have to buy the most expensive ones and you also do not need to buy all the colours. We will need: cadmium red, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, lemon yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow ochre, and burnt umber.

We can discuss materials before the first session.

To join the session please fill in the form on the button below. Further instructions will be sent once you send us your details.
https://forms.gle/BdTeA3CnT2U4o1Su7

If you have any questions about this activity please send an email to walks@majjistral.org.
We look forward to exploring nature with you all!

Majjistral Park Online Talks: “Mammals in Malta”
2020-12-02 20:00 - 21:00
We would like to invite you to join us for an ONLINE talk about Maltese mammals!
The talk will be hosted by Majjistral Park with Mr John Borg from National Museum of Natural History, Mdina, Malta as a guest speaker.

The talk will discuss:
Past mammal species in Malta
Evolution of Maltese Mammals
Overview of the species presently occurring in the islands including Alien species
Research and conservation
Introduction to the 2020-2022 Atlas of Maltese Mammals
Questions

Details

Date: Wednesday 2nd December 2020
Time: 19:00 – 20:00 (approximately 1 hour)
Register in advance for this meeting by clicking on the button below:

REGISTER

Please note:
Questions/ Comments – we will have a Q & A session at the end of the presentation. Please remain muted until then.
Chat – if you would like to post your question before the presentation has ended post it using the Chat function.
Recording – The presentation will be recorded. Please stop your video if you do not want to be recorded
Duration – The talk should last for about an hour but may go over depending on questions

Tree Growing Online Workshop
2020-11-11 20:00 - 21:00 | Guided Snorkelling Tour at Golden Bay, Golden Bay, Manikata, Malta, MLH 5510, Malta
We invite you to join us for an ONLINE webinar about how to grow indigenous trees!
The webinar will be hosted by Majjistral Park with Adrian Gatt from The Grow 10 Trees Project as a guest speaker.

We will talk about:

Afforestation projects at Majjistral Park
The importance of trees
Species types & Habitats in Malta
Why we need trees in Malta
Seed Collecting & Sowing tips
How to grow Maltese Trees
Questions

Details

Date: Wednesday 11th November 2020
Time: 20:00 – 21:00 (approximately 1 hour)
Duration: Approx 1 hrs
The first 30 registered participants will be given a packet of seeds!
Let’s get planting!
Register for this online webinar by clicking on the button below:

REGISTER

Please note:

The price is free but we accept and appreciate any donations you would like to make through a bank transfer by using the below details:
Beneficiary: Heritage Parks Federation A/C Funds
IBAN: [REDACTED]
BIC: VALLMTMT

Guided Snorkelling Tour at Golden Bay
2020-10-24 09:00 - 12:00 | Guided Snorkelling Tour at Golden Bay, Golden Bay, Manikata, Malta, MLH 5510, Malta
Join Majjistral Park and Sharklab-Malta for a Guided Snorkelling Tour on the beach of Golden Bay (Ramla tal-Mixquqa).

Details:
Date: Saturday, 24th October
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Duration: Approx 3 hrs (including coastal talk, briefing on shore)
Participant requirements:
✔ Must be older than 9 years old
✔ Must be in good health
✔ Must be a good swimmer*
✔ Must have own snorkelling equipment
Fees:
Snorkelling for kids/students = €8
Snorkelling for adults = €10
To book or for more info please email us at walks@majjistral.org. Bookings will be taken up until 1pm the day before the event.
Please note:
*Participants must be able to swim at a slow pace for 2 hours although there will be opportunities to hold on to the swimmer zone buoys if you feel tired!
**This activity is subject to weather conditions which may affect the enjoyment and safety of participants. The organisers may therefore have to postpone at short notice if they think that there is a risk of inappropriate weather.

Guided Sunset Walk
2020-09-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Guided Snorkelling Tour at Golden Bay, Golden Bay, Manikata, Malta, MLH 5510, Malta
Join us for a Guided Sunset Walk at Majjistral Nature and History Park!

We will walk along the cliffs and witness spectacular views of the coastal landscape, experience the sounds of nature, learn about Malta’s flora and fauna and enjoy the sunset with beautiful surroundings.

Details:

Date: Saturday 18th July 2020
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Event Duration: 2 hours
Fitness Level Required: Medium
Price: €10 per Adult €3 per Child/ Student under 18 years
Meeting Point: Majjistral Park Visitor Centre

To Book:
Pre-booking and pre-payment is ESSENTIAL.

Please book by sending an email to walks@majjistral.org. Details about how to pay will be sent by email.

Please note:
Payment will only be accepted via online transfer. Cash payments will NOT be accepted. We will issue a refund if anyone is unable to attend as long as pre-warning is given before the activity takes place.
Participation in the activity will be refused if anyone is visibly unwell or has respiratory symptoms including coughing, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose or sore throat;
The Visitor Centre will be closed. Facilities like toilets will NOT be available;
Vulnerable people (e.g. >65 years of age) participate at their own risk;
A record of the names, contact details and date and time of activity participants will be kept in order to facilitate contact tracing should this be required.
The park terrain is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs.
Children are to stay alongside parents at all times of the walk.
Dogs are welcome but they need to be kept on a leash.
Visitors to the park are to take care of their own safety and that of any accompanying children and the Majjistral Park cannot be held responsible for any injuries or loss of property.
Activity participants should:
Wear comfortable shoes for rugged terrain and suitable clothing;
Wear a mask if participants feel this is necessary;
Maintain a social distance of 2 metres from other participants;
Cover their coughs and sneezes with a clean tissue or use their elbow (and no spitting);
Avoid touching their face, eyes, nose and mouth;
Dispose of used tissues and cigarette butts hygienically and responsibly (please bring a bag to put these in);
Be clean before participation;
Bring drinking water if required;
Have no intentional physical contact with other activity participants such as shaking hands and patting backs;
Anyone who develops a mild cough, fever (i.e. a temperature of 37.2⁰C or higher), shortness of breath, headaches, tiredness, loss of taste, loss of smell or diarrhoea, should seperate themselves from the activity and call the public health helpline on 111 giving details of their symptoms.

*Photo provided courtesy of Gilbert Vancell Nature Photography
