By Annalise Falzon
On a sunny March morning, a group of nature lovers, activists and volunteers came together for a citizen science activity with a blooming purpose: to document Malta’s wild orchids.
The event, led by the Wild for Orchids Community, brought together participants from Friends of the Earth Malta, Moviment Graffitti, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, and BirdLife Malta, along with Xemxija residents. In just a few hours, they recorded over 480 orchid specimens, representing five different species—all within a small threatened plot of land.
One of the stars of the day was the Maltese Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis urvilleana)—an endemic beauty found in high numbers on the site. This orchid is just one example of the incredible biodiversity thriving in Xemxija’s rocky landscapes, which are currently under threat from proposed development. The area is also home to Mediterranean Heather, Lentisk, Aleppo Pines and a range of pollinators and wildlife that deserve protection.
The Wild for Orchids Community project is all about raising awareness and gathering scientific data through regular field observations. It’s part of a growing movement to empower citizens to take part in environmental monitoring and preservation, using tools like simple photography and location tracking to support orchid conservation.
You can join this blooming adventure too!
👉 Field visits will continue throughout April and May, and new volunteers are always welcome. Whether you’re a plant lover, nature photographer or simply curious, you can be part of the effort to safeguard Malta’s wild orchids.
📩 To take part, email wild.for.orchids@gmail.com
🌼 Follow the community on Facebook: Wild for Orchids Community
Photos courtesy of the Wild for Orchids team.
