Message from the Executive Director

A red ‘notice of intention to develop land’ has been posted at our head office, Waterville! Don’t worry, this is a good thing as it means we are one step closer to reducing BNT’s carbon footprint... and our BELCO bills.

We have applied for Planning permission to erect a pergola in the Waterville car park, on which an array of solar panels will be mounted to meet most of the power needs for the office. We hope to receive the necessary permission and break ground for the project early in 2025.

Before we decided to take this step, the BNT Heritage Committee carefully considered the use of solar panels in the context of natural and cultural heritage sites and drafted a detailed policy document outlining if, where and how BNT feels solar panels can appropriately be used. We sought to find a balance between the need to address the climate crisis and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and to protect our precious heritage sites. The policy can be found here if you are interested. We hope others will use it as a guide when considering installing solar systems on their own properties.

Karen Border

Executive Director

A toast to Tiffany!

Every Trust volunteer means so much. But sometimes someone truly exceptional comes along. Members of our Council and Staff, Museums & Collections Committee, and Gala Committee recently gathered to raise a glass to an extraordinary Trust volunteer. Tiffany Banner has given enormous amounts of her time, talent, energy, and expertise over the past five years as a committee member, museum operator and collaborative catalyst. The Trust Museums Plan reflects the input of Tiffany and other volunteers. And so, as we wish Tiffany and her family well as they depart Bermuda, we will carry out the plans and carry on with the work that she and other volunteers support and inspire.

Cultural Heritage Updates

Dr. Charlotte Andrews, Head of Cultural Heritage

Many hands make heritage happen

As we fall into Fall, Museums Manager Chris Davies and I wish to thank the volunteers who supported cultural heritage over the summer. Eryn Bhola gave us a ton of time, curating historic property flyers and sorting cultural heritage files. Eryn and Lily Mulder Powell helped us relocate BNT's costume collection to Verdmont for conservation and curation.

Lily and fellow local volunteer Olivia Adderley spent several weeks earlier in the summer digging under the supervision of Smith’s Island Archaeology Project director Dr. Michael Jarvis and site supervisors Ewan Shannon and Bermudian Xander Cooke. Back in the Globe Museum lab, local volunteers Richard Goodwin, Eleanor Desmond and Martin Kenney contributed to the success of the 2024 season by processing thousands of finds under the supervision of lab manager Rhiannon Flaig.

Upstairs at Globe, we had a wonderful paid part-time museum operator in Zina Hayward. Volunteers Tiffany Banner, Peter Barrett, Peter Frith and Wendy Young and Sunday-opening support from the BTA kept the museum open all week to visitors.

Over at Verdmont, the rose gardens were tended by Diana Antonition, Richard Goodwin, Sarah Mahoney and Denise Ribaroff. The tireless Friends of Verdmont continue to help us clear new areas of the gardens and views surrounding the historic house. We are truly fortunate to have volunteers Bob and Jean Flath, Annette Gilbert and Michelle Simons, Anna Finkbeiner and Marian Jones, and Louise Roberts keeping Verdmont open. Down the road from Verdmont, Jennifer and Ian Hind spend time every month caretaking Jennings Land cemetery.

Zina Hayward, Globe Museum

Eryn Bhola and Lily Mulder Powell, Pond House

Bob and Jean Flath,

Verdmont Museum

Richard Goodwin, Globe Archaeology Lab

Annette Gilbert and Michelle Simons, Verdmont Museum

Anna Finkbeiner and Marian Jones,

Verdmont Museum

Natural Heritage Updates

Myles Darrell, Head of Natural Heritage

The nature of teamwork

In the wake of Hurricane Ernesto and this summer’s monumental rainfall we’re back in the field with volunteers. And there is much to be done! Last week we had our first volunteer clean-up and planting session of the season with an enthusiastic team from Appleby Global at Sherwin Nature Reserve. All credit to them; their work improves Bermuda’s shared spaces – and contributes longer-term to efforts to address climate change and conserve our heritage.

Beyond the obvious benefit to the environment, getting involved in these events can better your health, strengthen connections in the community and bring a little joy into your heart from the inspiration that comes from being in nature. And there are so many opportunities, whatever your age.

For the Young

Our Waterville Garden Club is back on Wednesdays, 4pm-5.30pm, with fun and interesting activities – as well as valuable work to improve the property. Fridays’ Eco Club at Government House, 4pm – 6pm, has a strong focus on propagating and caring for local plants, and we also spend some time birding, walking and sometimes just lying back to observe the clouds and enjoy the peace and serenity nature brings. These clubs are designed for students 13 years and older. Sign-up for both these opportunities is located on our website.

For everyone

Monthly community days at various nature reserves across the island are a great way to learn more about our local environment, habitats, flora and fauna. Do join us:

Counting on you

You are invited to take part in a BioBlitz on 23 November at Spittal Pond! This is a citizen science undertaking to record all living species within a designated area. Stay tuned to our website to ensure you are part of this event as numbers will be limited.

Bug Power

Another opportunity I’m excited about is a new collaboration between Buglife, a UK-based nature conservation charity, and our own Department of the Environment and Natural Resources. Buglife works to save invertebrates “from bees to beetles, worms to woodlice and jumping spiders to jellyfish”. This study of Bermuda’s invertebrates is the first in decades and will involve collecting baseline data to assess our invertebrate population and create better understanding of the threats from invasive invertebrates. Improved knowledge about native and endemic invertebrates will assist efforts to conserve and restore ecosystems. Learn more about this project.

This is a three-year project – so your help will be needed with trapping and identifying these critters! Training will be required, and the team at Buglife will provide online workshops to equip volunteers. If you’re interested, please email me at myles.darrell@bnt.bm.

Heritage Education Updates

Anna Stevenson, Heritage Education Manager

The new academic year is in full swing! If you are a teacher and interested in booking a field trip at one of our nature reserves or museums, please contact Anna Stevenson to discuss at anna.stevenson@bnt.bm, or fill out our online form. We have funding for minibus transport, courtesy of the Garden Club of Bermuda and RenRe.

We also offer a wide range of private tours for adults. For more information, please email education@bnt.bm

If you know any children or young people 9-18, do encourage them to register for our 2024 BNT/SOMPO student art competition!

FUN FAMILY ACTIVITIES FOR FALL

Another One Gone!

Front Street between Burnaby and Parliament streets photographed around 1898.

93 Front 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

Most of the articles in this series have been about buildings at risk but still-standing, and this article about 93 Front Street, the former Pan American and Swiss Timing building was originally drafted in that mould. However it was demolished even before the period for objections was up. Click below to read more about this historic building.

Click here to read the full article

2024 Annual Raffle

Don't miss the chance to win one of four amazing prizes, including an electric Mini COOPER. Other prizes include a Vespa Motor Bike, a $500 BELCO Voucher, a $500 Supermart Voucher and two round trip tickets on BermudAir

Tickets cost $100, and we have only printed 1,100 tickets, giving you a better chance to WIN!

Tickets are available at the following locations:

Online – Click the link below or visit our website to easily purchase a ticket online! You will automatically receive your ticket number and be entered into the raffle.
At Waterville, 2 Pomander Road, Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm or call 236-6483 and we can process your card over the phone.
At the Trustworthy store at the Globe Museum in St. George's (view opening hours)
Through other supporting partners!

The draw will take place on Tuesday, 10 December at 10:00 am at Waterville, 2 Pomander Road and can be watched through Facebook Live.

Purchase a ticket online!