Message from the Executive Director | |
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It was a fun and successful February at the Trust: our Plant & Bake Sale was bigger and busier than ever, and we were inundated with donations for our jumble sale and auction. Thank you to everyone who supported BNT by donating and buying items, and an especially big THANK YOU to the amazing teams of volunteers who make it all happen.
We still need more help though, so if you could spare a couple of hours for these events next year please email Jordan Smith jsmith@bnt.bm!
| BNT AWARDS – CALL FOR NOMINATIONS! | Friday 4 April is the final deadline for award nominations! BNT’s Annual Awards celebrate individuals, schools, groups and organisations who have demonstrated their love for Bermuda’s natural and cultural heritage in some significant way. It could be for a recent project such as the sensitive renovation of a historic property or a research study, or it could be for showing a long-term commitment to our island’s heritage. The nomination form can be found below or on our website here. Please let us know who you think deserves an award. | |
Karen Border
Executive Director
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Callum Adams & Axel Cardell, our volunteers in charge of the seedlings. | |
Dorte Horsfield, Head of Development & Sharon Vesey, one of our volunteers. | |
Some excited new plant owners! | |
Volunteers Al Spearing & Olesya Wehlau, serving coffee donated by Rock Island. | |
Ronald Burchall our Conservation Assistant and Amanda Outerbridge. | |
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Julie Steele and
Hannah Horsfield,
helping sell plants.
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Auction & Jumble Sale 2025 | |
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Part of the Jumble team that make it happen!
Maria Duffy, Al Spearing, Lea Kessaram, Linda Tailford, David Carruthers, Richard Lee,
Dennis Carter, Penny Carruthers, Mark Johnson and Katie Riihiluoma.
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Volunteers receiving items. | |
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Al Spearing,
Head of the Jumble Sale.
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Rachel Barnes,
sorting through donations.
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James Decker and a volunteer from his team, sorting through the amazing treasures! | |
Heather Gillis, Head of the Jewellery. Heather flew from Canada just for this event! | |
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Cheers to all of
our volunteers!
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Natural Heritage Updates
Myles Darrell, Head of Natural Heritage
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People power - our greatest natural resource? | |
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We’ve had an incredible start to the year with two successful community volunteer days and our first corporate team day of 2025.
The first volunteer day of the year was at the Rebecca Middleton Nature Reserve alongside the Paget railway trail - a success story for environmental reclamation. We welcomed new and veteran volunteers and celebrated improvements to the space: more native and endemic species are thriving, and collective efforts are paying off.
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Melvin Jr Nussum-Burchall and
Ronald Sr Burchall
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Our second community day took us into Sherwin Nature Reserve in Warwick, where a wonderful family from the northeast US joined in, eager to experience the real Bermuda through hands-on conservation. Together, we removed invasive Pothos vine and planted Bermuda Cedars. One of the highlights of the day was working with multiple generations of the Burchall family. It was inspiring to see the grandparents, parents and children working side by side, demonstrating how conservation can play a wonderful bonding experience for families.
The year’s corporate group activity began with the Appleby Global Green Team who once again demonstrated their dedication to Bermuda’s natural beauty at the Sherwin Nature Reserve, which they have sponsored now for four years. As part of this ongoing adoption plan, they put in tremendous effort to ensure our ecosystems remain healthy and thriving. We’re grateful to have such a passionate group supporting our mission.
Join the movement!
Volunteering isn’t just about giving back, it’s about experiencing the beauty of nature, connecting with like-minded individuals, and leaving a lasting impact. Visit our website for upcoming volunteer days and join us in making a difference—one reserve at a time!
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Cultural Heritage Updates
Dr. Charlotte Andrews, Head of Cultural Heritage
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Verdmont Museum in Smith’s and Globe Museum in St George’s are now open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, with free admission for members.
We are also excited to offer 45-minute live guided tours of historic Verdmont six days a week at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm , with a discounted rate for members. These tours, led by knowledgeable interpreters, give fascinating insights into the site's rich history and exceptional collections. The tour centres around the complex history of men, women and children enslaved at the property and the merchant families that owned the property, now an African Diaspora Heritage Trail site.
We are grateful for support from the Bermuda Tourism Authority, which has allowed us to expand our hours and offer the tours.
Book your tour online or just walk-in for self-guided museum experiences, and we look forward to welcoming you!
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Verdmont Museum interpreters Jo-Rena Davis and Abigail Faries | |
Turning Our Attention to Textiles | |
We are excited to welcome professional textile conservator Emma Pattinson to the Trust this spring to assess the conservation needs and display potential of our extensive textile and costume collection. Visitors to Verdmont Museum from 24 March-4 April will have a unique opportunity to see Emma at work. Don’t miss this behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating world of textile conservation! | |
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Portrait of a Lady
Andrea Siegel and her partner, Jacob, recently traveled to Bermuda, hand-carrying a historic portrait that may have a fascinating connection to the island. This oval painting, depicting a young woman in an elegant, gilded frame, bears an intriguing note on its verso: “Lord Percy’s Daughter—Lord Percy was the one time Governor General of Bermuda.”
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Andrea Siegel delivers the portrait to the Trust headquarters at Waterville. | |
While further research is needed to confirm the portrait’s provenance, the Museums & Collections Committee felt it was important to bring this artwork into the public domain. We are grateful to the Siegel family for their generous donation, made in honour of their parents, Marilyn and Joseph Siegel, who honeymooned in Bermuda in 1958. | |
Heritage Education Updates
Anna Stevenson, Heritage Education Manager
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Family Activities for Spring
For some fun spring-time family activities, click here.
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Vote for Us in the Best of Bermuda Awards! | |
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The Best of Bermuda Awards are now open for voting, and we’d love your support!
Whether it’s our events, nature reserves, historic properties, or children’s camps, we’d be honoured to receive your vote in any category you see fit.
Voting closes on Monday, March 10 — click here to vote today!
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The Bermuda National Trust | bnt.bm | |
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