Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1537666
Nature Notebook Open Call: Beach Box items Friends of the Earth Malta is setting up a Shared Beach Box on Comino, with the aim to reduce single-use plastic waste and promote sharing over buying. The Comino shared beach boxes will be a free-to-use collection of beach essentials (like buckets, spades, snorkel masks, floats, etc), available to everyone visiting the island. That being said, FoEM is making a call for anyone that has unwanted beach items to give them the opportunity for a second life instead of throwing them away. Donate your unwanted beach items and you will be helping us make Comino cleaner and more sustainable for all. *this initiative is funded by the Malta Environment Foundation. Green idea of the week 132 Register your interest here: https://foemalta.org/blog/ beachbox/ Don't miss this Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member 1. Waves of Change Date: 24 July Location: Grand Master's Palace, Republic Street, Valletta, Malta On Thursday 24th July, we are inviting young explorers aged between 7 and 10 to join us in an interesting afternoon workshop at the stunning Grand Master's Palace in Valletta. Starting at 16:30, participants will let their imagination loose to create their very own masterpieces inspired by Malta's sparkling blue seas, using vibrant watercolours and cool wax-resist crayon and collage techniques 2. Dance Festival Malta Date: 24 to 27 July Location: Valletta, Malta Held between the 24th and 27th of July, the festival features an inspiring programme of workshops, masterclasses, and performances that celebrate the richness of global dance cultures. Showcasing renowned international artists and choreographers, Dance Festival Malta invites both audiences and participants to immerse themselves in the universal language of movement. 3. Tribute to ABBA Date: 25 July Location: Teatru Rjal, Valletta, Malta The Malta Concert Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Matthew Bugeja, pays tribute to the legendary Swedish pop group ABBA who shot to fame in 1974 when they won the Eurovision Song Contest with their song Waterloo. Enjoy this and other all-time favourites such as Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Money Money Money, Super Trouper, and The Winner Takes It All performed by leading Maltese singers and a live orchestra under a starlit Maltese summer night. 4. Plastic Free July - Night Eco Market Date: 24-27 July Location: Gnien Indipendenza, Tower Road, Sliema, Malta In honour of Plastic Free July, explore a curated collection of eco-friendly, plastic- free, and lovingly crafted products that inspire and delight. Discover unique treasures that blend heart and purpose, every evening from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Don't miss this eco-conscious experience in Malta's bustling heart! 5. Back to the Roots – Mediterranean Herbs in the 21st Century: Lecture 3 Date: 26 July Location: Valletta Design Cluster, Bull Street, Valletta, Malta Interested in growing your own herbs but not sure where to start? Join us for an engaging and practical session with Dr. Claudette Gambin, a botanist and Principal Scientific Officer at Ambjent Malta, who will guide you through the essentials of successful herb gardening in Malta's unique Mediterranean climate. This lecture is designed to empower beginners and gardening enthusiasts alike with the knowledge and confidence to cultivate healthy, flavourful herbs—whether on a windowsill, balcony, home garden, or shared community space. Dr. Gambin will cover key aspects of herb gardening. 6. A Resonant Forever Date: 2 August Location: Hideout, Triq Martin Luther King, Pembroke, Malta Expect a transformative night of ambient soundscapes, experimental techno, rhythmic depth, and bold sonic storytelling. 7. Delicata Classic Wine Festival 2025 Date: 8-10 August Location: Upper Barrakka Gardens, Triq Sant' Orsla, Valletta, Malta Head to the 2025 edition of Delicata's celebrated summer wine festival, set once again in the enchanting Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta, on August 8, 9 and 10. The festivities run nightly from 7pm until midnight, inviting you to sip, savour and sing along under the stars. Sunday night will dazzle with "Legends of Pop", a spectacular tribute to timeless pop hits. Expect powerful vocals, iconic tunes and high energy as Maltese music stars Glen Vella, Ludwig Galea, and Michela Galea join forces with the Spiteri Lucas Band for an unforgettable live show of classic pop covers. 8. Notte Napoletana Date: 8 August Location: Pjazza Teatru Rjal, Valletta, Malta Join the Malta Concert Orchestra, led by Maestro Dario Salvi, for a vibrant night of Neapolitan music. Enjoy timeless classics like O Sole Mio, Funiculì Funiculà, and Granada in rich vocal and orchestral arrangements that capture the soul and spirit of Naples. Delicata Classic Wine Fesitival from 8 to 10 August 979. loggerhead turtle UP until the early 20th century turtles nested regularly on our sandy beaches, but all that dwindled to zero by the 1960s. The only loggerhead turtles (fekruna tal-baħar) I remember were sad speci- mens flapping helplessly in a fishmonger's van, awaiting the knife. The picture today is a very different and rare happy story on our wildlife front. Almost every summer since 2018, loggerheads have crawled up our sandy beaches and nested, often with success: 406 hatchlings last year, and there are already five nests this summer. So what changed? Nobody knows. Well it's true that sea turtles have been protected since the early 1990s, which must account for some- thing; and commendable measures are taken to protect the nest sites (kudos Nature Trust and ERA for that). Whatever the reason, we're not complaining. 5 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 JULY 2025 ALMANAC Victor Falzon, Mark Anthony Falzon (photo)