Got green fingers? Branch out and test your skills in the JUSTNature balcony greening competition! We have four €100 vouchers up for grabs for the budding urban gardeners who can create the greenest, most pollinator friendly mini-garden.
Those of us living in Malta’s urban centres know that every little pocket of greenery counts. Summers are steadily becoming more intense and, thanks to the urban heat island effect, temperatures in our dense, concrete cities regularly exceed that of rural areas by 3–4 °C.
Vegetation combats the heat island effect directly, by providing much-needed shade, releasing moisture that cools the nearby air, filtering pollutants, and creating small oases of comfort where people can breathe a little more easily. Yet, despite their importance to quality of life, green spaces are rapidly disappearing in Malta.
That’s why, working with the local community (that’s you!), the JUSTNature project hopes to bring a little more nature back into Malta’s built environment, one balcony at a time.
There are 4 prizes up for grabs:
- Best overall balcony
- Most densely planted balcony
- Most Mediterranean plant species
- Most insect-friendly balcony
If you’re unsure where to start, lavender is a great Mediterranean choice. It’s hardy and beloved by butterflies. It can also tolerate our hot summers with minimal care, provided it gets a deep watering once a week. But don’t stop at lavender: the most insect-friendly gardens are all about diversity! Local herbs like thyme, sage and rosemary can add variety and resilience. Another option that can beat the heat and add some colour is bougainvillea.
By filling our balconies with these small green patches, we collectively create a network of cooling spaces that make our cities more livable both for bees and for people. Be sure to visit the JUSTNature stand at Science in the City Festival this year (26-27th September, Valletta) to find out more and share your ideas for urban greening!
So, do you have a beautiful botanical balcony? If so, you could win one of the four 100-euro vouchers for local plants sourced from local initiative Grow 10 Trees! Click here to sign up now.
// Photo by Damir Mijailovic (Pexels)