Weekends see many families heading to the countryside for some recreation time at the closest parks and gardens. Conserving these spots is fundamental to the well-being of the places and the public taking pleasure in such serene areas. Scroll down for tips on how to make your next picnic sustainable.
AVOID PACKING FOOD AND BEVERAGE IN SINGLE USE PLASTIC
Reusable containers and aluminium bottles are the latest trendy packaging, and for good reasons. Their reusability element makes them cost-saving and environmentally friendly. Stop using plastic wraps and bottles, paper bags and single-use cutlery. Opt for cleaner alternatives that will keep your food fresh, your beverages chilled and your wallet packed.
STICK TO THE FOOT PATH & DESIGNATED PICNIC AREAS
One can only revel in the beauty of the countryside if it remains a constant. Before you open up your folding tables and chairs, ensure that the spot you’ve chosen will not cause harm to the natural habitat and the species that reside there. Tell the children to head to the open spaces for a game of football instead of playing amongst the trees.
STUB CIGARETTES IN PORTABLE ASHTRAYS
Certain picnic areas such as Ta’ Qali forbid smoking within the perimeters. Others without a ‘No Smoking’ notice should not be abused. Cigarette butts are fabricated from a form of plastic, which takes 10 years to decompose. Even after a light rain downpour, cigarette filters can easily be carried to the sea by a water stream, contaminating the seas and its marine life.
DON’T LEAVE FOOD BEHIND
Regardless of your good intentions, the little creatures making picnic areas their natural home don’t need help to find sustenance. They have been keeping their bellies fed long before that picnic. As a matter of fact, if we leave food behind for them, it causes more harm than good, as it alters their usual nutrient intake and makes them too lazy to forage. Besides… rotten food creates emissions which are more harmful than carbon dioxide.
DISCOVER THE AREA
Malta might be a small country but very few people can brag that they have visited every nook and cranny. Even if you’ve been to the same picnic area for the last five years, the natural habitat would definitely have changed to delight you with new surprises – a fresh patch of endemic flora and fauna, a bird nest perched amongst the trees or a bee hive lodging on a tree trunk. You’ll definitely relish the feeling of being a stranger in your own land.
TAKE RUBBISH WITH YOU
Before you start packing the sandwiches and tea biscuits for the picnic, head to the storage cupboard for rubbish bags. Make your life easier by taking with you all three types – organic, recycling and general – that way, you won’t need to fish out sticky garbage when you’re back home.
We believe keeping a sustainable planet comes from our everyday activities, so why don’t you help keep the countryside and the world around you a pleasing place for the generations to come?