All posts by: Dorte Horsfield

Volunteers at Sherwin Nature Reserve

Volunteers from a law firm helped clean out a nature reserve so it could open to the public after years of closure.

A team of about 25 Appleby employees visited the Sherwin Nature Reserve in Warwick last Friday to help clear invasive species and overgrowth and plant endemic trees.

The firm also made a $5,000 donation to the Bermuda National Trust, which maintains the nature reserve, to help in its work of preserving Bermuda’s natural heritage.

Tim Faries, the Bermuda managing partner of Appleby and the chair of their charities committee, said: “We honour and share in the Bermuda National Trust’s mission to protect the island’s natural heritage and we are delighted that our team’s contribution will allow the community to enjoy the picturesque beauty of the Sherwin Nature Reserve once again.”

Several employees brought family members to assist in the clean-up effort, while others signed up for future clean-ups and tree planting.

Myles Darrell, the conservation officer of the BNT, thanked Appleby for their help and confirmed that the Sherwin Nature Reserve was open again to the public.

He added: “This huge accomplishment has benefited the Bermuda National Trust, the neighbourhood and Bermuda as a whole. Thank you.”

Read the full Royal Gazette article here.

Wilkinson Quarry Objection

Wilkinson Quarry Objection | June, 10th 2020

Click the link below to read more the objection regarding the proposed demolition of an unstable mound with a subterranean void in Wilkinson Quarry, Hamilton Parish.

Wilkinson Quarry Cave Objection

BUILT HERITAGE: Southlands

BUILT HERITAGE | May 8, 2020

By Linda Abend, Bermuda National Trust

In conjunction with the National Museum of Bermuda, the Trust is going to run a series of short articles about the buildings that we consider most at risk in Bermuda and the most worth saving. 

Anna, the wife of Montreal merchant James Morgan, bought 31½ acres and an old Bermuda house from the heirs of Thomas Dunscomb in 1913. The core of the house can be traced with certainty to 1820 but is thought to date as far back as 1745. The property was already known as Southlands and it became James Morgan’s retirement project. Using stone cut from his quarries, he almost immediately began to extend the house. With the help of Bermudian architect Edward Tucker, the integrity of the original U-shaped house with its three uniquely-positioned butteries was not compromised. The quarries were turned into individually themed gardens with a variety of exotic imported plants. The Egyptian quarry for instance contained a pool of water lilies fringed by papyrus. Morgan purchased several nearby properties, eventually owning over 80 acres.

A philanthropist in Canada, James Morgan was generous in Bermuda. In 1920 he gave money to his neighbourhood school, Warwick Academy, which allowed them to complete the wings and build the assembly hall. He was a member of the Warwick Parish Development Committee set up in 1917 to tackle the deficiency in the food supply by encouraging home gardening and the cultivation of all available land. The Morgans held fundraisers at Southlands to help with the cost of equipment needed for the newly opened King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Click here to read the full article

To learn more about the history of Southlands see our newest book from out Architectural Heritage Series: Warwick, available for purchase.

BUILT HERITAGE: Independent Order of Odd Fellows’ Loyal Irresistible Lodge

BUILT HERITAGE | MARCH 19, 2020

By Linda Abend and Margie Lloyd, Bermuda National Trust

In conjunction with the National Museum of Bermuda, the Trust is going to run a series of short articles about the buildings that we consider most at risk in Bermuda and the most worth saving. This is the first article.

Located on the corner of Cambridge and Somerset roads is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows’ Loyal Irresistible Lodge No. 6587. Named after HMS Irresistible then stationed in Bermuda, it is without a doubt the most elaborate of all the lodge buildings.

Designed by John W Greig as a two-storey building, 56’ x 29’ x 14’ on each floor with a side tower, the cornerstone was laid in April 1901. From start to finish the work was done on a voluntary basis by the Brethren of the Lodge and when completed was debt-free. The grand new hall was dedicated with much pomp and circumstance on May 30, 1902. Participating in the celebration were members of the other Friendly Societies who arrived from Hamilton and St George’s on the steamer Corona. The newspaper remarked that “the most important feature of the parade was the presence of the Juvenile Branches… It is to them the Odd Fellows must look to build up their Lodges in the future”.

Click Here to Read More

New Nature Reserve, Eve’s Pond

PRESS RELEASE: Joint Statement: Buy Back Bermuda, The Bermuda National Trust and the Bermuda Audubon Society: Breaks ground for new nature reserve

March, 9th 2020 – A new nature reserve in Hamilton Parish will be open to the public this suBmmer. Ground was broken on Friday for the restoration of Eve’s Pond, a project by Buy Back Bermuda, the joint initiative of Bermuda National Trust and Bermuda Audubon Society. In 1941 Eve’s Pond was filled in with sand dredged from Flatts Inlet. Funds raised from the community enabled Buy Back to acquire the 3.5-acre property in 2012, and prepare for its restoration as a sanctuary for wildlife and public enjoyment. Stay tuned for updates on this important conservation project.

Eve’s Pond Press Release

Open Space Quarrying Proposal

PRESS RELEASE: Joint Statement: Bermuda National Trust and Bermuda Audubon Society on Judkin Lane, Hamilton Parish, Open Space quarrying proposal

February 11, 2020 – The Bermuda National Trust and Bermuda Audubon Society are extremely disappointed with the decision of the Minister of Home Affairs to approve the proposed commercial quarrying on the lot north of 9 Judkin Lane in Hamilton Parish, against the recommendation of the Independent Planning Inspector appointed to review the appeal.

As noted by the Independent Planning Inspector, this decision overturns the protection of Bermuda’s open space afforded by the Bermuda Plan 2018 and would result in the permanent destruction of a large section of woodland on a highly visible hillside in an area of significant environmental value.

We urge the Government to put in place a long-term plan for the provision of slate from acceptable development zones, for present and future use. The current approach is too damaging to our long-term future.

The ongoing piecemeal loss of Bermuda’s places of natural beauty, so essential to the wellbeing of the entire community, including our tourism product, is alarming. It flies in the face of the growing global understanding that we must do more, not less, to protect woodlands as part of the global fight against climate change.

Joint statement BNT BAS- Judkin Lane.pdf 

BNT Appeals the Decision to Approve

PRESS RELEASE: BNT Appeals the Decision to Approve PLAN-0082-19

The Bermuda National Trust has appealed the decision of the Development Applications Board to approve a large six-storey quarry on Judkin Lane (planning application PLAN-0082-19) and has received great support from both the Bermuda Audubon Society and BEST.

The proposal for a quarry, and that of an enormous house proposed in same location under a separate application, will have significant detrimental effects on a pristine natural area including three of our properties which we are charged to protect: two Nature Reserves, HT North and Mangrove Lake, that support many endangered species, and a wooded property with a house – the old Hamilton Parish Post Office – that today accommodates two residences. This proposal poses an unacceptable risk to the tenants’ safety and quality of their lives and would have a harmful effect on the Reserves.

As a charity with the primary goal of preserving the island’s built heritage and building methods, we in no way object to the quarrying of slate and we have much sympathy for members of the public who have been unable to acquire slate to repair their houses after Hurricane Humberto. However, we have been informed, as has the Government, that the owners of a historic slate quarry, not 300ft away from this site, offered that their quarry, in an unobtrusive location, be reopened to meet the current need – as it was in 2014 following Hurricanes Fay and Gonzalo – but to our knowledge, the owners did not receive a response or the proposal given the appropriate consideration.

We objected to this application for the following reasons:

• The proposal is for a six-storey quarry accessible only from a private driveway that is the only access to two of our residences;
• The site has permission only for a 1,000sqft house on the site of an existing ruin that necessitates no significant excavation;
• The site is designated by the 2018 Bermuda Plan entirely for conservation and the proposal is in no way compatible with this or the surrounding natural environment;
• An application, PLAN-0023-19, that has not been decided yet, for a 6,000+sqft house (12,000+sqft including hard landscaping) was erroneously presented to the Board as a fait accompli; we and a host of other concerned neighbours and conservation groups have objected to the house and its inappropriate scale and massing – not one house in the area exceeds 2,000sqft;
• This type of commercial and industrial process is only permitted in a development area, which this site is not;
• The Conservation Management Plan for the site was seriously flawed, provided no opportunity for public input, and inexplicably was given the go ahead, facilitating the deforestation of the entire Woodland Reserve on a steep and highly visible hillside;
• The clearing of this woodland encroached onto our property and removed a significant section of National Trust protected woodland;
• The applicant did not comply with the conditions of Planning and the Conservation Management Plan;
• The fact that no protected woodland remained onsite (due to the above) was perversely used as grounds to approve the development;
• The site was subject to an outstanding Planning Enforcement complaint as the owner misused the site’s Agricultural Reserve to store industrial equipment;
• Allowing Judkin Lane, a very narrow and curving single-track lane, for the use of heavy vehicles for an intense industrial process is not only environmentally unsound but poses a real threat to other road users;
• The real impact of traffic was not adequately presented to the Board;
• The application was not advertised as normal, nor were the details clear, meaning that many of the neighbours and other concerned conservation bodies were denied their right to provide input;
• We submitted our objection on the deadline on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 23, and the Board approved the application less than 48 hours later – meaning that its contents and concerns could not have possibly been given the proper scrutiny, analysis or consideration;
• The impact of noise, vibration, dust, traffic, air quality and runoff on our residences, neighbours and on the Nature Reserves HT North and Mangrove Lake and the wildlife they sustain was not established;
• The quarry will have an unacceptable impact and pose a threat to safety of the residents of one of our houses; 40ft from the garden of two small children;
• The operation licence will not mitigate the impact of noise, vibration etc. on our residences;
• The noise assessment submitted with the application is for a different property so has no bearing on this application as it is for a completely different site in a different environment;
• The applicant recently operated another quarry that was subject to stop orders and a retroactive planning application for quarrying in Woodland Reserve and this was not presented to the Board;  conversely the operation of the proposed quarry, PLAN-0082-19, was represented to the Board as an operation that would be carried out in an orderly manner and for a limited duration;
• The dismissal of the visual impact as being only ‘temporary’ is wrong. No dwelling will be able to obscure a six-storey quarry and the scarring of this important prominent hillside will be an eyesore to the public forever.

  Press Release.pdf 

BNT Summer Update 2019

The Bermuda National Trust hopes that everyone is having a lovely summer. In case you missed it, the Regulatory Authority of Bermuda (RAB) recently published an Integrated Resource Plan which lays out a plan to meet the island’s future electricity demand through a variety of sources. 

The plan can be found here Bermuda Integrated Resource Plan and there is an executive summary that we encourage everyone to read

The Bermuda National Trust is delighted to see that the RAB has selected option (1D) that aims to have at least 75% of Bermuda’s future energy use come from renewables by 2035, and is also one of the options with the lowest carbon emissions.

While there are still feasibility studies to be done, we certainly welcome this direction for the island as it is an important move away from fossil fuels towards more sustainable electricity.

We would like to congratulate the RAB and all the public and private bodies that were involved in the consultation process to ensure Bermuda is not too heavily reliant on fossil fuels.

Also in July we submitted an objection to a planning subdivision application for the former Riddell’s Bay golf course that seeks to create 19 additional building lots and would result in the loss of 20+acres of conservation land including the development of a 0.66km section of pristine coastline.

The application did propose the creation of an open space and nature reserve area. However, this is not set in stone and as such, we feel, cannot be considered alongside the subdivision as a positive aspect.  

International Conference of National Trusts 2019

Arms Wide Open: Strategies for Engaging with Diverse Communities

Bermuda chosen to host major conservation conference

December 18, 2018 – A successful bid by the Bermuda National Trust has resulted in Bermuda being chosen as the venue for a major conservation conference next year. The International Conference of National Trusts 2019 is expected to include 150 representatives of conservation organisations from around the world.

It is the group’s 18^th conference and was last staged in Bermuda 30 years ago. In addition, the fourth Caribbean Conference of National Trusts will take place at the same time to enable national trusts in the region to discuss their specific issues. 

The conference takes place from March 27-30, 2019 and will take place in St. George’s, Dockyard and at the Fairmont Southampton Resort.

“We are delighted to have been selected as the venue for the conference,” said Alana Anderson, President of the Bermuda National Trust. “It’s particularly meaningful for us as 2019 is the 50^th anniversary of the formation of our Trust.

“In addition, it’s a boost for Bermuda – not just the fact that the conference will bring visitors to our island in March, but because it attests to the fact that we are recognised as an island with a strong history of conservation and respect for our environment. We look forward to showing our visitors what Bermuda has to offer and how we have taken care and improved upon the natural beauty of the island. It will provide a valuable opportunity for us to learn from our peer organisations around the world.” 

Bill Zuill, Executive Director of the Bermuda National Trust, said the conference will be focused on diversity and inclusion “a topic of relevance to national trusts everywhere; only with the engagement of our communities can we succeeded in our conservation mission and ensure that natural and man-made heritage is preserved ‘for everyone, forever’.” 

The conference, titled “Arms Wide Open – Strategies for Engaging with Diverse Communities”, will be based at the Fairmont Southampton Resort with sessions to be held off site including at the Dockyard and St George’s World Heritage Site. 

“We have a great deal to discuss, but we want to showcase Bermuda as much as possible,” said Bill Zuill. “By locating the workshops and discussions outside the hotel, we will ensure our visitors get the a full Bermuda experience without compromising all the work we need to do.”

So far, delegates to the conference are signed up from 32 countries – Aruba, Australia, Bermuda, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, France, Fiji, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Malawi, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Philippines, Russia, St Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sierra Leone, South Korea, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Tanzania, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Virgin Islands, United Kingdom, United States and Zimbabwe.

Bermuda residents who wish to take part in the conference can also do so in one of two ways. They can sign up for a full delegates’ pass which includes evening entertainment for $800, or they can sign up for a Bermuda delegates’ pass, which entitles them to attend all daytime events, for $500.  Residents can register for the conference at https://into-icnt.org/

Panel discussions and workshops will be led by experts in their field from around the world, with strong representation from Bermuda. Plenary speakers confirmed so far include:

• British curator, historian and filmmaker Gus Casely-Hayford, Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington DC since February, 2018. Awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, he is one of the world’s foremost authorities on African art, and the creator of the BBC TV series The Lost Kingdoms of Africa. Dr Casely-Hayford is a former Executive Director of Arts Strategy, Arts Council England, and advisor to the United Nations and the Canadian, Dutch and Norwegian Arts Councils and the Tate Gallery.
• Marquetta Goodwine became Queen Quet after being elected Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation. A native of St Helena Island, South Carolina, she is an author, preservationist and performance artist. In 2008, she recorded the story of the Gullah/Geechee at UNESCO headquarters in Paris for the UN archives. Her activism began with securing land rights for the Gullah/Geechee people, who often passed land down through the generations without any legal documentation to prove ownership. In 1996, she founded the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition to support the continuation of Gullah/Geechee culture.
• Gail Lord is president and co-founder of Lord Cultural Resources, formed in 1981 to address a need for planning services in the museum, cultural and heritage sector. The company has completed more than 2,200 projects in over 57 countries. Focused on creating value from “the maximisation of cultural resources”, the company has offices in New York, London, Mumbai, Beijing and Toronto, and clients in the public, private, foundation, government and nonprofit sectors.

Media Inquiries: Bill Zuill, Executive Director, Bermuda National Trust 

wzuill@bnt.bm  236-6483 ext 223

Government Land Leases to Farmers

July 24, 2018 – The Bermuda National Trust welcomes Public Works Minister David Burch’s decision to renew the lease of the Bascome family at Westover Farm, Sandys and of his intention to extend all lapsed agricultural leases of Government land to 21 years less one day.

The Trust believes that the preservation of arable land as open space, and the maintenance of working farms as a means of giving Bermuda a minimum level of food security, is vital for Bermuda’s long term sustainability.

Bermuda National Trust President Alana Anderson said: “We welcome the fact that not only will farmers see their leases renewed, but that they will be renewed for more than two decades. This means that these 13 vital open spaces will also be preserved for 20 years and will be available for the next generation of farmers.  

“We also urge the Ministry, as landlord, to encourage farmers to use best practices, and where possible, to introduce sustainable farming methods which will ensure that Bermuda’s arable land will be healthy and productive for many years to come.”

The Long Arc of Progress

One of former United States President Barack Obama’s guiding principles was this statement: “The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

That statement, first made by an American abolitionist in the 1800s, popularised by the Reverend Martin Luther King, and then taken as an article of faith by Obama, tells us that even when progress seems impossibly slow, we should have faith and hope that better times are coming.

It is sometimes wrongly criticised for being overly passive — you may think there is no need to do anything because change will come naturally, or that because progress is so slow, there is no point in trying to accelerate it. In fact, its deeper meaning is that even if the road seems impossibly long with no end in sight, you must keep moving forward — change will come.

Fifty years ago this week, 19,123 adult Bermudians, 91 per cent of registered voters, cast ballots in the first General Election held in Bermuda under universal adult suffrage — the principle of one person one vote, that right given without regard to gender, race or, for the first time in Bermuda’s history, property ownership.

It had taken 348 years to reach that point — almost 3½ centuries had elapsed between the first meeting of the House of Assembly and the 1968 election.

You can see the history of that evolution in the Chubb Gallery for the next two weeks at The Road to Democracy, a Heritage Month exhibition organised by the Bermuda National Trust with assistance from the Bermuda Archives, the Bermuda Historical Society, the National Museum of Bermuda and the Bermuda National Gallery.

As you follow the display around, you may notice that gradually it moves from a predominance of things — drawings of buildings, maps, medals, furniture and documents — to a predominance of people.

Some of the “things” are extraordinary. They include the 1834 Emancipation Act, which “utterly and forever” abolished slavery in Bermuda, Abraham Lincoln’s signature, artefacts from the women’s suffrage movement and more.

But the latter part of the exhibition consisting mainly of people reminds us that it was people who made the change that came about in 1968. People were elected to the House of Assembly who argued for a wider franchise. People joined the Progressive Group and launched the Theatre Boycott, which inspired more people to form the Committee for Universal Adult Suffrage in 1960 and 1961. Seven years later, the 1968 election took place.

For many people today, the world of pre-1968 Bermuda is, to steal the words of the song, a different world. Most of us have no conception of a government chosen by a few people to rule over many, or a world of legalised segregation.

For some of our older residents, people such as E.F. Gordon, Eustace Cann and W.L. Tucker remain living, breathing human beings — people they knew and worked with. The purpose of the exhibition and of historians is to make sure that they remain alive to us. We need to understand how we are connected to them, and them to us.

So this week we pay tribute to Dame Lois Browne Evans, to Sir Henry Tucker and to Sir Edward Richards, and to those young men and women elected for the first time in 1968, determined to make a new and better world. People such as John Barritt Sr, Eugene Cox, Quinton Edness, Austin Thomas, Roosevelt Brown, whose CUAS accelerated the change, John Stubbs, L. Frederick Wade, Gloria McPhee, Reginald Burrows and more.

And we also credit the few who are still with us today — Bill Cox, Stanley Lowe, Stanley Morton, Walter Roberts and C.V. “Jim” Woolridge — who were honoured in the House of Assembly this week.

To be sure, these people had their differences, political and otherwise. But in 1968 they recognised an essential truth: that Bermuda had to change.

There was confrontation and violence before, during and after 1968, but far less than there could have been. This largely peaceful revolution happened because far-sighted people were able to sit down and find ways to settle their differences. No one got everything they wanted at the 1966 Constitutional Conference, and today in Parliament not everyone gets everything they want, either. But they find a way to move forward. That is the essence of democratic government.

Before 1968, a small group of people made the decisions for all. Afterwards, everyone had a say. For that reason, it was a watershed year — the Bermuda we know today would not exist were it not for the events of 1968.

To be sure, the system is not perfect. But the miracle of 1968, and the lesson of 1968, is that Bermudians have the tools to change and improve on the system and they have done so. It may not always be easy, but it can be done and people can have hope that they can bring about the change they desire through peaceful and democratic means. That could not be said before 1968.

To understand why this matters, we need to go back another quarter-century.

In 1944, the issue dividing the island was over whether women of property should have the vote.

Dr Cann, whose mission is life was to end the property vote, feared, like other black politicians, that giving women property owners the vote would entrench that system, not weaken it, and he had previously opposed female suffrage.

But in 1944, Dr Cann had a change of heart when, after countless rejections, the legislation came up once more.

He said: “I shall vote for the measure today because I hate to see any group enslaved by the power of others and refused their legitimate rights.

“I call on all Assemblymen to consider these matters that would grant to others the same privileges now proposed for the Suffrage Society.”

Dr Cann argued that just as gender should not determine a basic right, nor should race, which was the effect of the property vote.

He was exercising hope; hope that the moral arc of history would bend towards justice and that his act of support would bend people towards his point of view.

It would take another 24 years, and Dr Cann would have gone to a better place when it did, but in 1968, 50 years ago this week, he saw his dream fulfilled.

• Bill Zuill is the executive director of the Bermuda National Trust. The Road to Democracy is at the Chubb Gallery until June 1. Opening hours are 10am to 4pm

Wayne Jackson Tribute

The Bermuda National Trust has learned with sadness that its former President, Wayne Jackson, passed away last week and has offered condolences to his wife Juliette and her family.

Mr. Jackson was President of the Trust from 2002 to 2005, having previously served on the Trust Council and as Fundraising Chairman. He presided over the successful launch of Buy Back Bermuda in conjunction with the Audubon Society of Bermuda, the further expansion of the Trust’s portfolio of own open spaces and nature reserves and the recovery from the devastation caused by Hurricane Fabian in 2003.

During his tenure, the Trust also expanded its book publishing activities, continuing the publication of volumes of Bermuda’s Architectural Heritage, and releasing “Rogues and Runners” on Bermuda’s role in the American Civil War. The period 2002-2005 were also years in which the Trust’s fundraising efforts were highly successful, putting the organisation on a sound financial footing for the more difficult economic years after 2008.

After stepping down as President, Mr. Jackson remained an enthusiastic supporter of the Trust, and was a frequent attendee and participant in Trust events.

BNT president Alana Anderson said: “I remember Mr. Jackson fondly as someone who welcomed me into the National Trust family with open arms.

She added: “He was generous with his time and passionate about his vision for the Trust and how important it was to get involved. I am deeply saddened by his passing and on behalf of the Trust send sincere condolences to his family.” 

Hugh Davidson, who succeeded Mr. Jackson as President, added: “Wayne was a good and dedicated friend to the National Trust. He was especially proud of the small birdseye cedar coffee table made by his ancestor John Henry Jackson which was sent to London in 1851 to be shown at the Great Exhibition.

“The table now lives at Verdmont and I think of Wayne every time I see it.”

Mr Davidson added: “We will miss Wayne’s continuous support and enthusiasm for the Trust and are deeply saddened to lose a member of the Trust family.”

ATVs on Railway Trail and in National Parks

The Bermuda National Trust is deeply dismayed and disheartened by the decision to grant a one-year license for ATV tours on the Railway Trail in Sandys.

We are particularly concerned that the Minister of Parks feels able to ignore the fact that 99.7 percent of those who responded to the public consultation objected to the proposal. Many will perceive this as making a mockery of the public consultation process and this will reduce confidence in public consultation in general.

This morning we reached out to other concerned groups who objected to the plan and we are to hold an emergency meeting to review the options open to us.

Notwithstanding the need for innovative experiences for our visitors, the safety and enjoyment of our National Parks is paramount. They are the preserves of all of us; our children, seniors, athletes, artists, differently abled, farmers, birdwatchers, walkers, horse riders, fisherman, visitors and more. Open spaces like the Railway Trail are essential to the public’s overall health and the wellbeing of our community. This tour threatens to disrupt the peace and tranquility people seek in parks and open spaces.

We do not believe that this one tour with its limited reach, nuisance and the dangerous precedent it sets, can in way demonstrate that it is in the public interest to justify overriding a number of different pieces of legislation.

Annual Auction and Jumble Sale

March 1, 2018 – The Bermuda National Trust’s annual Auction and Jumble Sale kicks off today with hundreds of bargain hunters and lovers of antiques and Bermudiana descending on the Botanical Gardens.

Two 18^th Century Bermuda cedar chests are among the highlights of Saturday’s auction, whose preview starts today. The chests, donated by a Bermuda family, are fine examples of the high standards of workmanship of Bermudian cabinetmakers.

The chests are in excellent condition and in one case, still have the staple hinges which were typical of the original chests. The Trust is very grateful for this exceptional and generous gift.

The larger chest dates back to the 1790s and the earlier, Chippendale chest is a fine example of Bermudian cabinetwork.

The auction also features other Bermuda cedar antiques, including a rare cedar tea table with a scalloped curtain and two rocking chairs.  There is also a wide selection of mahogany antique furniture, including a tilt top breakfast table and a Victorian four poster bed.

There are several outstanding pieces of art. A Charles Lloyd Tucker pen and ink drawing of a fishing boat at Front Street is one of the highlights, and there are also two Chris Marson watercolours.

A sterling silver tea urn from 1890 is in excellent condition, and there is also a full set of Royal Worcester Beaufort bone china.

There are at least three antique dining tables and there is also an excellent set of six English Rosewood dining chairs. 

At the jumble sale, which started today, there is some excellent jewellery and fine housewares, in addition to more than 3,000 items covering every imaginable category for the home.

The auction preview and jumble sale take place today from 8.30am until 6.30pm and tomorrow from 8.30am until 2pm. The auction starts at 10am on Saturday – rain blow or shine.

  2018 Auction Catalogue .pdf 

ATV Tours on Railway Trail and National Parks

The Bermuda National Trust is strongly objecting to the proposal to allow the Railway Trail and National Parks in the West End to be used for ATV tours.

And we are urging you, our members and supporters, to review the proposal, which would require changes to the rules governing vehicle access to public parks, and to send in your own objections.

The former One Bermuda Alliance government gave provisional approval for the plan. We understand that the approval was given despite a unanimous recommendation by the Parks Commission to reject the proposal.

The proposal would bring all-terrain vehicles on to the Railway Trail, Hog Bay Park, Fort Scaur Park and the Heydon Trust.  It would also run alongside the National Trust’s Gilbert Nature Reserve for part of the route.

National Trust President Alana Anderson said: “The Trust vehemently objects to National Parks being accessed by motorised vehicles as it would be wholly incompatible with the quality, character and function of these natural and historic sites.

“The National Trust supports the active enjoyment of our parks and open spaces and encourages their enhancement and new uses for them. We also welcome innovative thinking to revitalize our tourism industry and to enrich our visitors’ experiences in Bermuda.

“Nevertheless, the proposal would set a terrible precedent. Hog Bay Park is one of Bermuda’s largest and most peaceful parks which is a vital amenity for neighbourhoods in the area while thousands of people use the Railway Trial for walking and relaxation.

“The disruption from the proposed tours in terms of noise, erosion to unpaved walking and nature trails, disturbed wildlife and threats to safety would have a detrimental impact on surrounding nature reserves, parklands and historic sites and conflict with their function as places of respite, amenity, education, recreation and conservation.”

National Trust Preservation Committee chairman Robert Masters added: “There is no doubt that the use of the 150cc ATVs will pose a threat to public safety; it is nonsensical to imagine that they will remain at or below 10mph. In addition, there are already walking and bicycle tours of these areas.

“Also, this will exacerbate the problem of illegal access by motorised vehicles of these parks. Hog Bay Park has suffered from an entrenched problem with scramblers for years without any effective solution – damaging the paths, endangering the users, negatively affecting the agricultural land and disturbing neighbours. Introducing ATVs to the park will only make it worse.” 

The deadline for objections is November 14 (next Tuesday).

 Comments may be sent in writing via the Government Portal at https://www.gov.bm/proposed-change-use-scaur-hill-fort-park-and-hog-bay-park, or at: https://www.gov.bm/sites/default/files/8500_Proposed-Change-of-Use.pdf

• Submissions can be sent in to the Parks Department, via e-mail at parkspublicconsultation@gov.bm before 4pm on November 14.
• You can also mail your submissions to the Department of Parks, P.O. Box HM20, Hamilton, HMAX.
• You can also make your submissions in person by visiting the Department of Parks’ main office, Ground floor Global House, Church Street, Hamilton.

The Department of Parks will have forms available to fill out, and schematics of the proposed trail changes will be on display in their main lobby for review and consideration.

For more information regarding this proposal, you can email parkspublicconsultation@gov.bm.

2017 BNT Raffle Winners

Congratulations!!

Coming Up at the Trust

For further information please contact palmetto@bnt.bm or call 236-6483

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BNT 2017 Raffle

The 2017 Bermuda National Trust Raffle has launched and we need your support! We are recruiting volunteers to help sell raffle tickets at various MarketPlace locations across the island. If you are able to spare two hours of your time for a good cause please sign up today using the following link: http://bit.ly/2xLPpit

Our top prizes include a a Bermi 200 electric car, a $5000 travel voucher, $2500 in vouchers at the MarketPlace and a whole lot more. All proceeds go directly towards helping the Trust preserve Bermuda’s unique natural and cultural heritage.

In addition to MarketPlace stores, you can pick up your tickets at Waterville and the Globe Museum.

#BNTRaffle2017

 

Johnnie Bread : Interactive Theatre Coming Soon to Verdmont

Smith’s Island Talk and Boat Trip – July 20th & July 22nd

All are welcome to attend Professor Michael Jarvis’s update on the University of Rochester Archaeology Field School’s work on Smith’s Island where, investigations continue into the early inhabitation of this island in St George’s Harbour.

Professor Jarvis, whose dig is sponsored by the Bermuda National Trust, will be speaking at 7pm on Thursday, July 20 at the St George’s Heritage Centre on Penno’s Wharf.

Tickets for the talk are $20 for BNT and St George’s Foundation members and $25 for non-members. Children and students may attend for $10.

Professor Jarvis, the author of Bermuda history book “In the Eye of All Trade” and a leading expert on Bermuda history and buildings, has been conducting archaeological field schools at Smith’s Island since 2010 – exploring remnants of settlements dating back to 1610 when survivors of the Sea Venture wreck were left in Bermuda.

Professor Jarvis will speak on the most recent digs on the Island, including progress on the 2017 Field School. This work includes:

• Completing the excavation of the artifact-rich cistern and finding a hypothesized main house,
• Greatly expanding the uncovering of the Smallpox Bay site to map what is believed to be Governor Richard Moore’s brief 1612 town; and  
• Making maps and preliminary assessments of two new promising sites at the West End. 

Those interested in the Smith’s Island dig will then get a chance to see the dig itself with a boat trip on Saturday, July 22. The boat will leave St George’s at 2pm. A maximum of 40 people will spend the afternoon exploring the island with Professor Jarvis and learning more about their work and their finds. Tickets for the boat trip are $30 for BNT and SGF members and $35 for non-members. Children and students may attend for $10. Tickets can be obtained by calling 236-6483 or emailing rshastri@bnt.bm. 

Alana Anderson elected as President of the Bermuda National Trust

The Bermuda National Trust is pleased to announce that it has a new President.

Alana Anderson was elected President by the Council of the National Trust after its annual General Meeting and Awards Ceremony last Thursday, June 22^nd.

Mrs. Anderson has been a member of the Council since 2008 and has been Vice President since June, 2015.

Currently employed at Sompo International as an Assistant Vice President and Associate Underwriter, Mrs. Anderson has had a deep interest in the environment and Bermuda’s heritage and culture since childhood.

As a Council member, she has been Chairman and the Governance Committee and has served on the Executive Committee and Finance Committee.

Mrs. Anderson said: “The Bermuda National Trust has always held a special place in my heart. It is a great honour to be elected as its President.  I am both excited and eager to continue on the legacy of ‘for everyone forever’.”

Mrs. Anderson succeeds Lt Col William White as President. Lt Col White served as President from 2010 to 2015 and stepped back into the role in March 2015 until this month.

He will remain on the Council in a non-voting capacity as Immediate Past President.

Lt Col White was also honoured with the Trust’s top award – the Palmetto Award – at the annual Awards Ceremony that preceded the AGM. The award is given for outstanding service to the community in areas of concern to the Trust or service to the Trust itself.

Mark Orchard was elected to serve as Vice President of the Bermuda National Trust at the same meeting. A member of Council since 2013, Mr Orchard, a Chartered Surveyor and real estate consultant and agent, is the founder of Mark Orchard Real Estate (MORE) and is a long-standing member of the Trust and the Vice President of Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB).

Mr Orchard said: “I am honoured to be elected the Vice President of the Bermuda National Trust.  Since joining the Trust in 2013 I have been astounded by the breadth of responsibilities that this organization conducts throughout the island; overseeing many of our country’s most important cultural assets including historic homes, museums and open spaces, as well as irreplaceable icons, including a vast collection of artwork, archival books, ancient silverware and priceless cedar furniture. 

“Ensuring that our Island’s unique legacy of traditions and treasured assets is maintained and made more accessible to the public will be key to ensuring the financial well-being of this important charity.   I look forward to playing an active role in enhancing this legacy.”

Lt Col White said: “I congratulate Alana and Mark on their new appointments within the Trust. They both have a wealth of experience, and a strong team of Council, volunteers and staff. The Trust is in good hands. I am also deeply appreciative for being selected as recipient of the Palmetto Award.”

Also stepping into a new role is Robert Masters, who was elected to be Chairman of the Preservation Committee. The Head Librarian at the Bermuda College, Mr Masters is a long-standing member of the Preservation Committee and was appointed to the Council last year. He has a deep knowledge of Bermuda history, architecture and furniture.

He replaces Mr Paul Leseur as chairman of the Preservation Committee. Mr Leseur continues on the Council as Honorary Vice President and is chairman of the Patrons Committee.

Also re-elected to the Council at the Annual General Meeting were Ms Robin Mayor, who continues as chairperson of the Development Committee and Mr Stephen Kuzyk who continues as Treasurer.

Currently, the other members of the National Trust Council are: Karen Border, Hugh Davidson, Kevin Gunther, Jan Macdonald, Tim Rogers and Mariette Savoie.  

Bermuda National Trust Awards 2017

On Thursday, June 22, we gathered at the BUEI to present the Trust Awards. These accolades recognise individuals, organisations, groups and schools who have worked for the benefit of Bermuda and its people, to preserve places of beauty or historical interest, buildings, artefacts, lands and animal and plant life, and to promote their appreciation. Congratulations to all our 2017 winners!

Secret Garden Party at Waterville

Environmental Organisations Come Together to Pay Tribute to the Late Dr David Saul

Environmental organisations have come together to pay tribute to the late Dr David Saul and to offer his family their heartfelt condolences.

Dr Saul was a lifelong supporter of the Bermuda Audubon Society and the Bermuda National Trust and was instrumental in bringing those two organisations together to form the hugely successful Buy Back Bermuda joint venture.

The tremendous success of Buy Back Bermuda in saving three acres of land known as Pitman’s Pond at Somerset Long Bay from development in 2004 and converting it into a superb nature reserve and bird sanctuary was very much due to the drive of Dr Saul. That fundraising effort, carried out under the umbrella of a joint venture between the Bermuda Audubon Society and the Bermuda National Trust, was spearheaded by Dr Saul and was oversubscribed – raising almost $2.2 million.

These funds made it possible to buy the land and carry out the conversion to a spectacular park with amenities for both people and wildlife and to provide sufficient funds to maintain it. 

Buy Back Bermuda member Dr David Wingate recalled yesterday: “When I first learned that Joffre Pitman had to sell his private nature reserve at Somerset Long Bay, and that there was a buyer prepared to pay $2.4 million for it to build a beach front condo complex, I despaired, as the Bermuda Audubon Society had never tackled a nature reserve project bigger than a few hundred thousand dollars before.

“We called David for advice and it was his boundless confidence and extraordinary fund raising skills which led us to the partnership with the Trust in what came to be called Buy Back Bermuda.”

Dr Saul also chaired the fundraising in Buy Back Bermuda’s second fundraising drive, which raised a further $2.5 million, which was used to purchase Eve’s Pond in Hamilton Parish, where plans are underway to convert it into a three-acre nature reserve and bird sanctuary. The balance of the funds were used to convert the Vesey Nature Reserve into a reserve after the land was given to Buy Back Bermuda by Ms Sharon Vesey. 

“Without David Saul’s tremendous energy, vision and powers of persuasion, the success of Buy Back Bermuda would not have been so grand. His confidence and ‘just do it’ leadership created a small but effective team who finished the job with great sucess.  His knowledge and experience were invaluable to Buy Back Bermuda from 2004 until he decided to step back in 2011, after which time he continued to be a wonderful supporter and sounding board,” said Buy Back Bermuda founding member and former Bermuda National Trust Director Jennifer Gray.

Buy Back Bermuda secretary Karen Border said: “We will miss his vitality and energy and his lifelong commitment to Bermuda generally and to the environment in particular.”

Bill Zuill, Executive Director of the National Trust: “Dr. Saul has been a longtime supporter of the Bermuda National Trust and believed wholeheartedly in the value of open space to our people and our biodiversity.  He loved nature and desired that everyone in Bermuda be given the chance to reap the many benefits of our precious open spaces.  His tremendous efforts in this regard leaves a legacy to be enjoyed by future generations and we are so very grateful for his passion and care of our island environment.  He will be sorely missed by all of us.”

Bermuda National Trust Executive director Bill Zuill added: “Dr. David Saul has been a longtime supporter of the Bermuda National Trust and believed wholeheartedly in the value of open space to our people and our biodiversity.  He loved nature and desired that everyone in Bermuda be given the chance to reap the many benefits of our precious open spaces.  His tremendous efforts in this regard leaves a legacy to be enjoyed by future generations and we are so very grateful for his passion and care of our island environment.  He will be sorely missed by all of us.”

Audubon president Andrew Dobson said: “David Saul was a former president of the Bermuda Audubon Society and we have lost not only a champion of the environment but a great visionary. He was instrumental in the formation of the Buy Back Bermuda campaign and leaves a wonderful legacy to Bermuda in the form of nature reserves at Somerset Long Bay and Vesey Reserve in Southampton. Without Dr. Saul’s drive and enthusiasm the Audubon Society wouldn’t own the magnificent Alfred Blackburn Smith nature reserve in Paget. David’s talents, generosity, vast knowledge and good company will be greatly missed. On behalf of the Audubon Society, I would like to offer sincere condolences to his wife Christine and all the Saul family”.

Young Creatives of Bermuda Honoured at Earth Day Video Film Festival

The Earth Day Student Video Competition 2017, sponsored by Marshall, Diel & Myers, engaged 75 students who submitted a total of 24 videos. 1^st prize in the Primary School category went to Bermuda High School students, Lily Jones & Ella Younie, for their video titled ‘Wave Goodbye to Pollution’.

Yvé Smith, Kaylah Stamper & Layla Williams of Bermuda High School won 1^st prize in the Middle Years category for their video ‘Getting out into Nature’. 2^nd prize in the Primary School category went to ‘Family Foods’ by Daryn Fox, Harmony Seymour & Eloise Tamine of Bermuda High School and 2^nd prize in the Middle Years category was awarded to Bermuda High School students Alex Carne, Camryn Heinicke & Tàja Williams for their video ‘The Ocean around Us’.

3^rd prize in Primary School category went to India Bascome, Samantha Barbosa, Bethany Gibbons and Sumayyah Ramatar of Somerset Primary School for their video ‘Getting out into the Ocean around Us’ and 3^rd prize in the Middle Years category was awarded to Jada Davis, Samantha Knights & Taylor Sousa of Bermuda High School.

To view all the videos please click here.

Trust Regrets Passing of Anna Phillips

We deeply regret that we have been informed that Anna Phillips, who worked for the National Trust for more than 20 years and was, with her husband Fred, a lifelong supporter of the Trust, has died.

Anna came to work for the National Trust in the early 1970s and was the assistant to William S Zuill as Director until his retirement in 1990. She then continued to work for the Trust as office administrator and membership secretary until she retired in 1996.

She and Fred were Life Members of the Trust and gave an enormous amount of time to the organization before and after her retirement. Fred is well known as one of Bermuda’s best cabinet makers and furniture restorers and many of the Trust’s artefacts have benefited from his expertise over the years.

The Trust offers its sincere condolences to  Fred Phillips and to Fred and Anna’s son Keith and his wife Vivian.

Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

Palm Sunday Walk 2017

Photos from bernews.com

More than 2,000 people turned out yesterday to participate in the Bermuda National Trust Palm Sunday Walk through Paget and Warwick.

Walkers were able to explore areas of the parishes that are usually closed to the public as part of the annual five-mile walk.

This year’s event, which was sponsored by Sompo International, began and ended at the Bermuda College — with participants guided along a course that passed Elbow Beach, Coral Beach and Tennis Club, Alfred Blackburn Nature Reserve, Billy Goat Hill, the Poorhouse on Spring Road, Warwick Academy, Ship’s Inn, Salt Kettle, and the historic buildings of Bamboo Gate, Beverley and Horizons.

Bermuda National Trust Children’s Nature Walk 2017

More than 285 children, teachers, camp leaders and parents had a whale of a time when they flocked to Spittal Pond to learn about Bermuda’s environment and history through the Bermuda National Trust’s annual Children’s Nature Walk. 

Many of the schoolchildren had the added experience of seeing – often for the first time in their lives – humpback whales breaching and playing off the South Shore in Smith’s Parish. 

Taking in the sights of one of Bermuda’s most spectacular open spaces, walkers experienced nature firsthand with help from BNT volunteer guides and an inspiring group of Bermuda College Environmental Science students.

Local experts Peter Drew, Amy Harvey, Claire Grenfell, Karen Border, Erich Hetzel, Janice Hetzel and the Trust’s Conservation Officer, Lawrence Doughty were on hand to share their knowledge on nature reserve management, migratory birds, pond biology and plant species. Children and adults alike discovered local cultural and historical tales from Bermudian artist Ronnie Chameau and the Trust’s Museums Manager Rohan Shastri and learned about the varied species that inhabit this 64-acre wetland including the elusive American Eel and the Bermuda Skink.

The Governor, Mr John Rankin CMG, Minister of Youth Development and Sport Nandi Outerbridge, JP, MP and Minister of Environment and Planning, Sylvan Richards, JP, MP, joined the walk and interacted with the participants.

Bill Zuill, Executive Director of the Bermuda National Trust said: “The turn-out was wonderful despite the slightly blustery weather. This has been an amazing opportunity to introduce one of our most beloved nature reserves to so many of Bermuda’s new generation and we hope that they will remember this experience for years to come.”

International Conference of National Trusts 2019

Arms Wide Open: Strategies for Engaging with Diverse Communities

Local residents encouraged to register for international conservation conference

February 19, 2019 – A major international conference taking place in Bermuda next month will feature Bermudians among its speakers and panelists. The Island was chosen as the conference venue as the result of a successful bid by the Bermuda National Trust (BNT), which also celebrates its 50^th anniversary this year.

This major biennial conference (March 27-30) will bring an estimated 100 individuals to Bermuda, from conservation organisations in 37 countries in Africa, Asia Pacific, the Americas, the Caribbean and Europe.

It is the group’s 18^th conference and was last staged in Bermuda 30 years ago. In addition, the fourth Caribbean Conference of National Trusts will take place at the same time to enable national trusts in the region to discuss their specific issues.

Bermudian speakers and panelists will include Bermuda’s first female Premier, Dame Pamela Gordon Banks, former Executive Director of the Bermuda National Trust Jennifer Gray, former Executive Director of the Bermuda National Museum of Dr Edward Harris, Bermuda National Trust President Alana Anderson and Keep Bermuda Beautiful Executive Director Ann Hyde.

Local conservation organisations have also been invited to attend the event. “We have contacted our sister environmental and heritage organisations and hope they and other private individuals will take this opportunity to enjoy the knowledgeable participants,” said a spokesman for the BNT.

“Understanding that not everyone can commit the time for the full conference, we’re offering a number of packages to make it manageable for our Bermuda colleagues. Full conference attendance including evening activities is $800; full conference daytime activities only is $500; and the daily rate is $175.”

The CV Zuill Scholarship Trust will accept applications from local non-profit representatives who would like help with funding their conference attendance. Applications can be made at  http://www.cvzuillaward.org/

Several corporate sponsors have also given their support to the conference. They are Butterfield Bank, Chubb, Fidelity and OIL. In addition, conference partners include the National Museum of Bermuda and the St George’s Foundation, Bermuda Tourism Authority and the One World airline alliance.   The Conference hotel is the Fairmont Southampton Resort.

The conference theme is diversity and inclusion and is entitled “Arms Wide Open – Strategies for Engaging with Diverse Communities”. Sessions will take place at the Fairmont Southampton Resort with sessions to be held off site including at the National Museum of Bermuda in the Royal Naval Dockyard and St George’s World Heritage Centre.

In addition to plenary sessions, five tracks have been set up for breakout sessions. These tracks are the environment, built heritage, diversity and inclusion, education and engagement and capacity building.

International speakers include:

• Her Royal Highness Princess Dana Firas of Jordan, the President of the Petra National Trust
• Dame Fiona Reynolds, President of the International National Trusts Organisation and former Director General of The National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• British curator, historian and filmmaker Gus Casely-Hayford, Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington DC
• David Bond, award-winning director, producer and writer of documentary, commercial and short film projects and director of Project Wild Thing, a film about connecting children with nature
• John Orna-Ornstein, the Director of Culture and Engagement for the National Trust of England Wales and Northern Ireland – the world’s largest National Trust.
• David J. Brown, Executive Vice President and Chief Preservation Officer with the National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Author and environmental advocate Marquetta Goodwine, known as Queen Quet after being elected Chieftess and Head-of-State for the Gullah/Geechee Nation.
• Gail Lord, president and co-founder of Lord Cultural Resources, formed in 1981 to address a need for planning services in the museum, cultural and heritage sector

All questions to Bill Zuill, Executive Director at wzuill@bnt.bm or call 236-6483

To register for the conference, please go to https://into-icnt.org/

To see the programme in more detail, please go to Arms Wide Open Programme.pdf