Prime sites for preservation: The Trust's Top Ten

1. ‘Queen of the East’

The Bermuda National Trust has long campaigned for the preservation of the Foot-of-the-Lane, or East Broadway, as one of Bermuda’s earliest settlements.

The Historic Buildings Committee when asked to create a list of ‘Historic Buildings at Risk’ for potential acquisition selected Queen of the East as the number one priority.  

Built in the 1740s, the Queen of the East is the epitome of Bermudian eighteenth-century architecture and remains the least altered of all the original buildings along the historic Foot of the Lane waterfront.

2. Agricultural land, rural tract and woodland along Arrowroot Lane and off Harrington Sound Road, Smiths and Hamilton Parish

The property reflects the nature of the area as part of an extensive tract of open space stretching from South Shore Road to Harrington Sound Road.

This area supports large areas of woodland and agricultural land and connects two nature reserves.

This area is rich in biodiversity and is of extreme ecological importance as a natural habitat.

The larger the tract of undeveloped land the more wildlife it can sustain and preserving such intact tracts will protect the habitat value of the area as a whole.  

3. Devonshire Marsh

Due to its size the Devonshire Marsh Basins variety of habitats that enables the wetland areas to support a large variety of species.

The basins accommodate Bermuda’s largest peat marsh habitat and likewise, freshwater lens.

The area is comprised predominantly of native vegetation and accommodates many rare and scarce species.

It is important for passage and wintering birds with over 95 species of birds recorded in or over this area.

4. Alton Hill, Southampton

Large tract of rural land that covers approximately 90 acres.

This area is of exceptionally high value mainly due to its size and South Shore coast.

It provides a rare opportunity to create public access over a very large undeveloped area.

5. Southlands Estate, Warwick

The estate is 37 acres and large portions are zoned as Open Space Reserve/Coastal Reserve with Woodland Reserve and Agriculture Reserve areas.

The property has long span of undeveloped coastline and beach and unique landscapes. The area represents one of the largest tracts of relatively undeveloped green spaces remaining on the Island and has great potential to be a public park with a public beach.

6.West Walsingham, Hamilton Parish

This is an attractive area due to its pristine nature and unique physical make up which includes many caves.

It is useable passive parkland as it is adjacent to Blue Hole Park Nature Reserve.

If preserved it would unite portions already owned by the National Trust, Walsingham Trust and the government to make one 40-acre protected area.

7. Ferry Point Park, St. George’s

This privately owned land is east of Lover’s Lake in Ferry Reach.

This property adjoins a National Park. Its preservation would safeguard a large continuous tract of open space.

The land is zoned Open Space, Green Space, Woodland Reserve and Agricultural.

8. Abbots Cliff

Currently there are privately owned portions creating gaps in the existing 12-acre Abbots Cliff Public Park.

This area provides a great opportunity to enlarge the park into one continuous public area.

9. Sea Swept Farm, Southampton

Large rural area that predominantly serves as an active farm.

10. Islands of the Great Sound and Harrington Sound

The islands of the Great Sound are zoned as Open Space/Green Space and Nature Reserve.

Our islands have become more critical habitat for rare flora and fauna as the main islands become fragmented and overdeveloped.

Biodiversity on an isolated island is better protected from the threats of invasive species including human impacts.  Much of our rare biodiversity is now limited to these small islands.

The Trust notes: This list is in no way exhaustive and there are many more parcels of important land that we feel should be conserved for the benefit of Bermuda.