Royal Gazette: Protectors of island heritage awarded by BNT
Awards were presented by the Bermuda National Trust to recognise work that protected and promoted the island’s natural and cultural heritage.
Jaché Adams, the Minister of Public Works and Environment, and Mark Orchard, the president of the BNT, presented the honours at the Verdmont Museum on Thursday.
Among the awardees was Stuart Smith, a veteran behind the Bermuda Bluebird Society.
He received the Bermudiana Award for Natural Heritage Impact for his commitment.
Mr Smith has been the “driving force” of the society, the BNT said, providing 26 years of service by advising on and installing boxes and monitoring bluebird box trails across the island.
He formerly ran Save Open Spaces, growing thousands of native and endemic plants.
Kim Dismont-Robinson received the Cedar Award for Cultural Heritage for her transformative 20-year career at the Department of Culture, where she served as folklife officer and later as director.
The BNT said that through her visionary leadership, Dr Dismont-Robinson revolutionised the island’s cultural landscape by championing underrepresented voices.
Her work helped to foster literary arts and preserved traditional knowledge through groundbreaking documentaries and publications.
The BNT’s highest honour, the Palmetto Award, was presented to past president Alana Anderson.
She was recognised for giving more than 20 years of dedicated service to the BNT.
Ms Anderson served as president of the charity from 2017 to 2024, and the organisation said that she spent many hours of her time volunteering to keep it on track during some “difficult periods” without an executive director at the helm, as well as through the Covid-19 years.
Jennifer Gray received the President’s Award for leadership of Buy Back Bermuda, particularly through the acquisition and restoration of the new High Point Nature Reserve in Southampton, which opened in April.
Alfred Spearing and Eldon Trimingham were recognised for more than a decade of voluntary service for the annual BNT auction and jumble sale, raising thousands of dollars for the organisation.
Kirk and Judy Kitson were honoured for their decades of “very generous” financial support to the BNT.
Saltus Grammar School received the Michael Darling Shield for Heritage Education for the Saltus Grove, a nature-based classroom established on the Maycot property within walking distance of the Saltus Cavendish Campus.
Lisa Greene and David Wingate were presented with the DeForest Trimingham Awareness Award for their Practical Guide to Garden Management in Bermuda.