Message from the Executive Director

Time for something a little different….

What a relief that Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda swept past us with relatively little impact.

Nonetheless, weather has upset our best-laid plans. High winds and rain are predicted on Friday, so we have reluctantly had to postpone our much-anticipated Fiesta at Waterville, an outdoor event. The new date is Friday, 24 October. We hope that all those who had booked tickets are able to make it. If you are unable to attend the new date and have already purchased a ticket, you should receive an email from PTIX with refund options.

While our regular annual events are much-loved, it is good to offer something a bit different from time to time. The casual, happy-hour concept has proved popular, so it too might become a regular in the calendar. As well as live music, tacos and tequila, you can enjoy some outdoor games and the chance to win a prize if you nail the answers to our BNT quiz. If you hadn’t already bought a ticket, come on out and join the fun on 24 October!

Karen Border

Executive Director

Natural Heritage Updates

Myles Darrell, Head of Natural Heritage

The Healing Power of Nature

As the weather starts to cool, the planting season has started up again—though with all the rain we’ve had the last couple of months, it feels like we could have been planting straight through the summer!

Our clubs and community days are also back in full swing. These are wonderful opportunities to give back to your community, learn more about our natural heritage and spend time outdoors. The benefits go far beyond conservation—time in nature supports both body and mind. More than 60% of Bermuda’s residents say they turn to nature for healing.

If you missed Dr Karen Dyer’s recent Lunch and Learn at the Bermuda College, you can watch the recording here or find it on the BEST website. Dr Dyer shared powerful insights on the benefits of connecting with nature, including one that really stood out: just two hours a week in nature can make a real difference to your health. It doesn’t take much—one volunteer activity could give you all the benefit you need for both your well-being and the health of our environment.

Our next Community Day will be held at Marjorie Jackson Nature Reserve, West Side Road, Somerset, on Saturday 18 October—we’d love to see you there!

Want to get more involved?

This is the perfect season to get your hands in the soil, breathe in the fresh air, and be part of something bigger.

Thank You for Supporting Visiting Scientists

We extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who offered to host the visiting scientist working on the Supporting Atlantic Territories Invertebrate Conservation - Buglife projects. The response was overwhelming and it was incredibly encouraging to see the support our community is ready to give. It shows that Bermuda values science, conservation, and the partnerships that make it possible to protect our unique environment.

If you’d like to hear more about the important Buglife project, visiting scientist Danni Sherwood will be giving a Trust Talk on 6 November at Waterville. She will share insights into Bermuda’s invertebrate community and discuss how we can help protect it. We encourage you to join us for what promises to be an engaging and eye-opening evening.

Cultural Heritage Updates

Dr Charlotte Andrews, Head of Cultural Heritage

Rainey Exhibit Co-Curator

We are excited to have appointed Chynna Trott as Co-Curator for the Rainey exhibit at Tucker House Museum. A Bermudian curator and historian, Chynna currently works at the Bermuda National Library and gained considerable curatorial experience at the National Museum of Bermuda as well as through international projects. She will bring her expertise in historical research, exhibition development, and community engagement to honour and illuminate Rainey’s life, family, and legacy.

Chynna at Tucker House

Chynna inside the kitchen doorway

Cultural Connections

I was pleased to represent BNT at the Department of Culture’s annual Cultural Connect conference in September, which brought together cultural professionals and creatives for panels and performances.

On the panel National Custodians: Culture in our Care, I shared that for BNT being a national cultural institution means holding Bermuda’s heritage in trust, for everyone, forever. The historic buildings, collections and landscapes we care for belong to the people of Bermuda; our role is simply to be their steward. Heritage isn’t about gatekeeping—it’s about keeping culture open, alive and inspiring.

My call to the public? Live and love your culture—explore it, celebrate it, share it and pass that evolving sense of who we are onto the next generation.

Heritage Education Updates

Anna Stevenson, Heritage Education Manager

The new academic year is in full swing, and we are delighted to be once again partnering with the Bermuda Home School Network as we support them in their delivery of personalised curriculum. HSN has set aside the last Friday afternoon of each month for learning adventures across BNT’s natural and cultural heritage sites.

During September, it was also great fun to meet up with Chatmore International School in St George’s, who were the first students to experience our brand-new tour, Echoes from the Deep. Although the content was modified for age, the students thoroughly enjoyed the stroll around the Old Town as we explored some of the strange and curious tales associated with the island’s maritime past.