Royal Gazette: Athene Staff dig deep to help spruce up nature reserve
Thirty staff from a reinsurance firm helped to spruce up a nature reserve, planting new trees, clearing the trails, cleaning signage, removing trash, and pruning and removing invasive species.
The Athene employees held their annual volunteer day last week and used the time to work on the Bermuda National Trust’s Sherwin Nature Reserve, which includes Warwick Pond and land north and south of the Railway Trail in Warwick.
“We are always delighted to have corporate groups help us to maintain and enhance the nature reserves that we hold in trust for the Bermuda community,” Myles Darrell, the BNT’s head of natural heritage, said.
“With over 270 acres of open space in the trust’s care, this support is very important to us.”
He added: “It’s extra special when a large group of people get together in our nature reserves with the intention to protect and preserve it for everyone, for ever.
“That’s exactly what happened when this group of very enthusiastic volunteers from Athene joined our team at the nature reserve.
“During the day, we planted more than 120 exotic bulbs at the roadside to beautify everyone’s drive, we planted more than 35 native and endemic plants in the heart of the reserve, and we raked through the trails to ensure good access.”
Brad Molitor, the president of Athene Life Re, added: “Athene is proud of the positive impact our employees are making in the communities in which we work and live.
“Our volunteer day gives us the opportunity to give our time, skills and commitment to wonderful organisations, such as the Bermuda National Trust, who do so much for the community and improving our quality of life.
“The Bermuda National Trust is like Athene in that they value working to make things better for the people and places around us. We look forward to partnering with them again in the future.”