Vexed Bermoothes

As we all know, Bermuda’s open space is disappearing quickly, putting pressure on our wildlife as well as limiting recreation alternatives for our people.

The Bermuda National Trust and the Audubon Society have a programme called Buy Back Bermuda [pdf] that seeks to acquire land and preserve open space from development.

That programme has purchased a large site at Long Bay in Sandys, and is currently campaigning to raise funds for a site near Shelly Bay.  They were also seeking funds to buy a large parcel at Skroggin’s Hill, alongside Evans Bay Nature Reserve and the Railway Trail in Southampton.

In a remarkable development, the Vesey family has donated that last piece of land – totalling 7.5 acres – to become a new biodiversity Nature Reserve with public walking trails.

That is a remarkable gift to the future generations of Bermuda!  Thank you, and thank you again.

I call upon the Bermuda Government to make a similar gesture and to formally dedicate the Southlands property on South Shore as a permanent public park or nature reserve.  In the face of public pressure to protect the property, Government made a deal with the developers to trade Southlands for a larger piece of land at Morgan’s Point.  However, the fate and protection of the Southland’s property is still unknown.