Message from the Executive Director

This year’s Palm Sunday Walk marks an extraordinary milestone. It will be the 50^th year in which the Bermuda community puts on walking shoes and heads out – rain or shine - to explore with BNT the natural and cultural heritage of a particular patch of our island. I wonder how many people can remember that first walk, and how many have taken part in most, if not all of them, over the years? We would love to hear from you and see any photos you have of past walks!

2025 also marks a return to St David’s, which we seem to visit on a ten-year cycle; the last Palm Sunday Walk there was in 2015 and the one before that was in 2005. There are few parts of Bermuda that offer as much heritage to learn about and celebrate along an 8km route.

To take part and support BNT through this wonderful event please register online. When you pick up your bib, or on the day of the walk, you will also have the special opportunity to purchase a 50th anniversary t-shirt sporting our cheerful Walking Palmetto.

The other exciting event this month will be the official opening of Buy Back Bermuda’s fourth public nature reserve at High Point in Southampton on Earth Day, 22 April. BNT and Bermuda Audubon Society members should look out for an invite in their inbox shortly!

Karen Border

Executive Director

A warm welcome for Andrew Butt

We are delighted to welcome Andrew Butt as BNT’s new Head of Property & Facilities.

A building surveyor and project manager by profession, Andrew has over thirty years of experience with commercial and residential developments, property management and project management. Before moving to Bermuda in 2019, he worked for a construction consultancy in London, where he worked on many projects involving historic and listed buildings. He was also a capital assessor and project monitor for the Heritage Lottery Fund in the UK. Andrew joins BNT from the Bermuda Brickyard, where he worked for the past six years as project manager.

Andrew’s skills and expertise will be very valuable as we proceed with conservation and restoration projects at our three museum properties – Tucker House, Verdmont and Globe Museum – as well as the other listed and unlisted buildings in BNT’s property portfolio.

Verdmont Conservation

As one of his first actions, Andrew Butt has overseen the removal of the rotten balcony on the south facade of Verdmont. It had to be taken down for safety reasons and will be replaced like-for-like. There was a larger balcony originally, but that had rotted and was replaced by architect Wil Onions with a smaller balcony in 1956, after the Historical Monuments Trust acquired the house. The 1956 balcony was replaced like-for-like in 1994, but that version has now also served its time.

Natural Heritage Updates

Myles Darrell, Head of Natural Heritage

Restoring Spittal Pond: One Year of Progress and Encouraging Results

Just one year since major restoration efforts began, dramatic change has taken place at Spittal Pond, Bermuda’s largest nature reserve. For some time, pollution had been killing off pond life, wildlife and plants, and this valuable ecosystem was seriously in need of our help. The combination of an international grant from the Darwin Plus Initiative and involvement of Bermuda’s own experts has made it happen, resulting in meaningful improvement to this important internationally designated RAMSAR wetland site.

The project

To prevent cattle from entering Spittal Pond and its surrounds, we constructed a fence which is effectively keeping cattle away from the pond. A berm and swale system was developed to prevent cattle slurry from continuing to contaminate the pond. This critical infrastructure has been enhanced by planting native and endemic flora on and around the berm. The trees, shrubs, and ground covers are taking root and flourishing, with a survival rate of at least 80%.

One of the most exciting outcomes so far has been the appearance of black mangroves along the shore-line. Before-and-after images (see photos by Dr Mark Outerbridge) reveal a strong resurgence, indicating that the habitat is beginning to recover and thrive once more.

Water quality testing has also yielded promising results. Prior to the construction of the berm and swale, E. coli levels in the pond were "too numerous to count". Recent tests show that E. coli counts have dropped significantly.

While there is still much to be done, these early successes affirm that our restoration strategy is working. We will continue monitoring and nurturing this vital ecosystem, ensuring that it remains a sanctuary for Bermuda’s unique flora and fauna.

While the project has been led by BNT, collaboration is key to its success. Thank you to all those who have helped, especially Dr David Wingate for his guidance and Dr Mark Outerbridge, Head of Biodiversity at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as hundreds of volunteers!

Photos show the change at Spittal Pond, before and after the conservation project, in October 2022 and November 2024. Newly established black mangroves can be seen amongst the grass.

Cultural Heritage Updates

Dr. Charlotte Andrews, Head of Cultural Heritage

Preserving Heritage through Masonry Apprenticeship

With support from the Department of Culture’s Cultural Apprenticeship Grant, BNT is preserving tangible heritage and traditional skills through a project conserving limestone cemetery memorials.

Clifton Anderson, the ‘tradition bearer’ mason has mentored apprentice Kaluym Mills in historic masonry conservation at St George’s Cemetery at Secretary Lane over the past several weeks. Their work reflects a deep respect for both the site and the craftsmanship required to sustain its memorials and boundary walls.

The Department of Culture has documented the project in a short film by Bermudian filmmaker Marq Rodriguez, which can be seen on YouTube.

Photo Credit: Marq Rodriguez for Department of Culture

Celebrating 25 Years of Bermuda’s World Heritage Site

This year marks a significant milestone: the 25th anniversary of UNESCO World Heritage status for the Historic Town of St. George and Related Fortifications.

As we reflect on the achievement of having UNESCO status, we honour the many people who have worked tirelessly to protect and promote this historic site. Louise Wakefield, an early advocate and long-time supporter of the World Heritage Site, shared: “Preparing the application was a huge undertaking and collaborative effort by many individuals and organizations, who believed what an historic and important jewel we have.”

Looking ahead, we are committed to working closely with Government and our fellow partners in the World Heritage Site to follow through on the key recommendations of the report produced last year by the World Heritage Centre and its cultural advisor ICOMOS. Aligning our efforts with the goals outlined in the report is essential to securing the site’s long-term sustainability, local relevance, and recognition on the global stage.

Photo Credit: John Singleton

Heritage Education Updates

Anna Stevenson, Heritage Education Manager

Mangroves and eagle rays delight little learners

We welcomed over 270 three and four-year-olds from Government pre-schools to Waterville during March, where they learned about mangroves and the creatures who live on and around them.

Seven baby spotted eagle rays arrived just in time to amaze our small visitors. They also saw mangrove crabs, spiny orb weavers, cow fish, green herons and lizards. This fantastic experience was made possible by funding from The Garden Club of Bermuda and Renaissance Re who provide funds for minibus transportation.

For some fun spring-time family activities, click here.

Our Summer Camp Programme is now open for registration, and places are going fast!

Click here to sign up your kids for camps.