Children Enjoy Nature Walk At Spittal Pond
BNT’s annual nature walk for children took place at Spittal Pond on Tuesday, with the free guided walk, sponsored by Arch, aiming to inspire young people with a love for Bermuda’s natural and cultural heritage.
A spokesperson said, “Around 140 children, parents, grandparents and camp leaders enjoyed a guided tour around the pond in small groups that set off at 15-minute intervals throughout the morning. They learned about the pond, plants, animals and birds from guides stationed along the way, as well as about aspects of Bermuda’s cultural heritage at Portuguese Rock and Jeffrey’s Cave.
“This annual event gets children outside for a couple of hours in one of Bermuda’s most important natural spaces,” said Karen Border, BNT’s Executive Director. “Our hope is that they have a fun morning exploring the reserve and connecting with nature. Hopefully, they will want to come back again and again as they grown and learn to become good stewards of the environment.”
“The 64-acre reserve is one of the Bermuda National Trust’s most spectacular open spaces held in trust for the Bermuda community. It is Bermuda’s largest bird sanctuary providing a diversity of habitats and an amazing variety of birds, especially during the migration seasons. It is also a very important cultural heritage site, with Portuguese Rock, the oldest evidence of humans on the island, and Jeffrey’s Cave, where an enslaved man was said to have hidden from his enslavers for several weeks.
“Myles Darrell, Head of Natural Heritage for BNT, introduced the children to the reserve and Dr Dorte Horsfield of BNT talked to them about pond life. Erich and Janice Hetzel of the Bermuda Audubon Society talked about local and visiting birds and helped the children observe some through a scope. Kim Dismont Robinson, Director of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, told the story of Jeffrey’s Cave, and Jeff Sousa talked about the significance of Portuguese Rock. Dr Robbie Smith explained the geology of the “checkerboard” rock formation and the natural forces that shaped our island. Andrew Stevenson talked about Humpback whales, which could be seen spouting and surfacing off the coast.
“Spittal Pond is owned by the Bermuda National Trust and the Bermuda Government owns the surrounding parkland. Those interested in more information on Spittal Pond or private tours can contact education@bnt.bm.”
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Category: All, Environment, News
