A rare wooded valley in Malta, planted by the Knights and still cherished for shade, birdsong, and midsummer tradition.
Buskett Gardens
Buskett Gardens is a compact but ecologically significant woodland located in the fertile valley of Wied il-Luq, on the western edge of Siġġiewi in central Malta. The site covers roughly 30 hectares and forms one of the very few substantial wooded areas in a country where indigenous forests were largely lost centuries ago. Its mix of broadleaved trees, native conifers, Mediterranean shrubland, and fruit groves gives it a layered, park-like character that is unusually green within the broader Maltese landscape.
The gardens were established as a hunting reserve by the Knights Hospitaller and remain a popular recreational area for the local population, who visit for walks, picnics, and shade, especially during hot summer months. The gardens also carry deep cultural meaning: they have long been the site of a midsummer festival connected to the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, locally known as Imnarja, which blends religious observance, folk music, traditional food, and an agricultural show.
Ecologically, Buskett has been recognized by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area, supporting resident and migratory species, as well as reptile life such as the Maltese painted frog. The nearby Verdala Palace, originally a Knights-era hunting lodge and now a presidential residence, overlooks the gardens and reinforces the site's long historical presence as a place of retreat, leisure, and conservation within the Maltese countryside.