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. 

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.  

 

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!

This year we bought the party home for our fundraising dinner, set in the grounds of Waterville, our Head Quarters in Paget. The theme for the evening was a Secret Garden Party, with decor managed expertly by our event co-chairs Louisa Swayne and Darlene Phillips. Kicking off with cocktails provided by Bacardi, our guests dined on a largely locally sourced meal before dancing the night away to live band, The Go Down Berries. Thanks to the generosity of everyone who came down on the night we managed to raise funds which will go towards our continued efforts to protect and preserve Bermuda's natural and cultural heritage for generations to come. 

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”.

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.

Bill Zuill, Executive Director of the BNT (center) and Dorte Horsfield, Education Director (left) with the Earth Day Video competition winners. 

Mark Diel, partner at Marshall, Diel and Myers, presenting prizes to competition winners

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.

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.

Somersfield Academy students spotting Humpback Whales off Portuguese Rock

Amy Harvey from Bermuda College demonstrating the pH of pond water vs ocean water

Amy Harvey from Bermuda College demonstrating the pH of pond water vs ocean water

Amy Harvey from Bermuda College demonstrating the pH of pond water vs ocean water

Amy Harvey from Bermuda College demonstrating the pH of pond water vs ocean water

Left to right: The Governor, Mr John Rankin CMG, William White, President of the Bermuda National Trust and Bill Zuill, Executive Director of the Bermuda National Trust.

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."