Message from the Executive Director

The Bermuda National Trust can claim many tags: a heritage organisation, an environmental organisation, an advocacy organisation, an educational organisation.

It’s important to remember that we are also a membership organisation, and membership matters. If you are not already a member or if your membership has lapsed, I ask you to consider the following reasons for joining or renewing:

Membership gives you a say. As a member you have the right to vote on the election of most of the governing Council and can stand for election to Council yourself if you wish (see AGM notice below). BNT members ultimately own the organisation and have a say in guiding its direction and priorities.
Membership demonstrates your commitment to the cause and help us to make a difference. There is strength in numbers. The larger our membership, the stronger the Trust’s voice and the more chance that BNT advocacy will be taken seriously by Government and others when it comes to matters concerning Bermuda’s heritage or environment.
Membership keeps you in the loop. As part of BNT you will receive notices of all our activities and can take advantage of the many fun and worthwhile ways to be involved, from social events to Trust Talks and tours, fundraising events and volunteering.
Membership has benefits, and we are working hard to increase them. As a member you pay less for all events with a registration fee, including talks, tours and the Palm Sunday Walk. You get first option on parking spaces for the Christmas Walkabout and 10% discount at our Trustworthy gift shop. You get free admission not just to the BNT museums in Bermuda, but to properties worldwide through the International National Trust’s INTO Places reciprocal programme!
Your Membership fees help us to be able to carry out our important work.

Of course, BNT works not just for our members but for the whole of Bermuda. Our vision and our mission are inclusive and we aim to keep our membership fees affordable.

For those of you who are already members, THANK YOU, and please don’t forget to renew! If you are not yet onboard, I urge you to join us in working for Bermuda and encourage your friends and family to do the same.

To join or renew your membership visit our website. If you have any questions about membership, please contact Lauren Simons at membership@bnt.bm or 236-6483 ext. 218.

Karen Border

Executive Director

Slate of Candidates for Election to Council

Mark Orchard - President
Michael Leverock - Vice President
Andy DeGregorio - Treasurer and Finance Chair
Duncan Simons - Heritage Chair
Peter Hebberd - Development Chair
Stratton Hatfield
Zeudi Hinds
Robin Mayor
Linda O’Shea
William White

NB: There are also three Government appointees to Council. Meredith Ebbin and Mariette Savoie will remain. Michael Leverock is resigning his appointment to stand for election to Council. BNT will put forward the name of a potential replacement.

Natural Heritage Updates

Myles Darrell, Head of Natural Heritage

Small islands plus big ideas equals a powerful force for good!

Having just returned from a week-long Small Island Incubator Programme in the UK, I feel as though Bermuda has gained a huge global support team!

This event was organised and hosted by the International National Trust Organisation (INTO) and included representatives from small islands all over the world: Jersey, Taiwan, BVI, Bahamas, St Helena, Fiji – and more.

The programme focused on coastal and island site management while also addressing the practicalities of managing coastal sites for nature and tourism. But the longer-term benefit will be the network created among the participants. The knowledge and experience we shared and will continue to share will benefit us long into the future.

While experts gave presentations and led discussions, we also visited sites around the country – from sand dunes to wetlands – for some on-the-ground understanding. Takeaways from the visits included:

strategizing for climate change
fundraising opportunities and resources
retaining and supporting staff and volunteers
achieving net zero
sustainable regenerative farming practices.

Cassander Titley-O’Neal, Director of the BVI National Parks Trust, and Myles Darrell

visiting Lundy Island, UK.

As a side note, every day in the UK I met someone who has a connection with Bermuda. For a tiny island, our reach is remarkably big!

Addressing issues on small islands is not the same as larger land masses. As an example, there was a lot of dialogue about carbon credits and how that system won’t serve small island conservation efforts well, as it requires scale to be effective. There was also a lot of talk about biodiversity, which is no great surprise as the UKOTs contain 90% of the biodiversity found in the UK and overseas territories combined. Biodiversity credit schemes could prove a more effective approach to conservation funding.

Being with others who can appreciate and understand the unique challenges we face was comforting and encouraging. While our islands differ, many aspects of the work can be adapted. One of the sayings of the week was: “I’m going to steal with pride”! There was public acknowledgement that this makes perfect sense; together, as a global resource we can achieve so much by helping each other.

At this stage, I am bursting with plans that will expand and secure our conservation efforts. Stay tuned! In the meantime, I hope BNT members understand that you are part of a significant network with INTO giving access to properties around the world. Remember to carry your BNT card with you when travelling!

One final thing: thank you to the sponsors of this amazing experience, including the Helen Hamlyn Trust, INTO and the BNT.

The INTO Incubator team learning about reintroducing beavers to improve habitat.

Cultural Heritage Updates

Dr. Charlotte Andrews, Head of Cultural Heritage

Meet our new Museums Manager

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Christopher Davies as our new Museums Manager. Chris fills a critical role within our cultural heritage team: managing Trust Museums to ensure that museum visitors have a meaningful and memorable heritage experience.

Chris has a degree in history and considerable museum experience, having worked at Firepower, the Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich; at the Cutty Sark, National Maritime Museum; and at Royal Armoires, Fort Nelson. After a brief stint in retail he later worked at Bonhams auction house in London as Head Porter and Operations/Buildings assistant.

Chris and his wife Alaia Wharton moved back to Bermuda in 2021. They live in the heart of St George's and are painstakingly restoring their historic home there using traditional methods and materials. He has a passion for old building conservation and antiques.

We are very pleased to welcome Chris to the BNT team.

SIAP is back

The Smith’s Island Archaeology Project (SIAP) team is back at it, continuing their excavations at Smith’s Island and processing their finds in the archaeology lab at Globe Museum in St. George’s. A National Endowment for the Arts grant to the University of Rochester supported last year’s work and this 11th season of SIAP, which has been running since 2010.

Dr. Michael Jarvis has the biggest University of Rochester and local volunteer team yet to strive to answer his Bermuda and Atlantic research questions while providing valuable archaeological training to American and Bermudian students. Under Dr. Jarvis’ direction, Bermudian PhD student Xander Cook and Masters student Ewan Shannon are supervising the dig, while Lab Manager Rhiannon Flaig is overseeing finds processing by students and volunteers in the cellar of Globe Museum.

Want to learn more about this exciting project? Save the date for a tour of the Smith’s Island dig on Sunday 23 June, or for a Trust Talk about the SIAP team’s discoveries at Globe on Thursday 27 June. Sign-up details will be circulated and posted on bnt.bm soon. You can also visit the archaeology lab at Globe and perhaps even lend a hand – opening hours are also on the web site. Updates on SIAP are available on the project blog.

The 2024 SIAP team on Smith’s Island on 27 May.

World Heritage Site research – call for participation

Professors Emma Waterton and Jason Dittmer of the Heritage for Global Challenges Research Centre will be returning to St. George’s in late July to continue their Bermuda World Heritage Site fieldwork. Our cultural heritage team is providing logistical support with this transnational heritage study.

We will be conducting focus groups with residents of St. George’s and St. David’s on Wednesday 24 July and Saturday 27 July at Globe Museum. Email charlotte.andrews@bnt.bm if you would like to take part.

Members, please help us spread the word to east end friends and family who might be willing to participate! While this research is independent of BNT, it will provide valuable data and analysis that is useful for our Trust Museums plan and other collaboration in St. George’s.

The Titan Tours team visits Globe Museum while doing interpretive training in St. George’s.

Heritage Education Updates

Anna Stevenson, Heritage Education Manager

Early in May, we ran a field trip to Verdmont where all P2 students at Saltus Grammar School learned about daily life long ago. Of keen interest was the privy (of course!), the kitchen, the orchard and the nursery. In the attic, little hands got to hold objects from the past and guess what they were used for.

It was a lovely surprise to receive this beautiful hand-made card, signed by the children.

We also explored the changing flora and fauna in the different habitats at Spittal Pond with P3 students from BHS and visited Somersfield to introduce P6 students to some key personalities who brought about significant historic and cultural change to Bermuda during the 20^th century.

Built To Last

The Phoenix Drug Store in 1905. Courtesy of Horst Augustinovic.

The Old Phoenix Drug Store, 2 Reid Street

This is part of a series of architectural articles by the Bermuda National Trust that highlight some of Bermuda’s endangered historic buildings.

By Linda Abend and Margie Lloyd, Bermuda National Trust

The former Phoenix Drug Store has dominated the southeast corner of Reid and Queen Streets since 1902. The building was designed by Bermudian architect Edward Peniston for druggist Frederick William Grantham. The iconic balcony is now at risk.

Click here to read the full article.