1 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:04,560 And welcome to the News Navigators. 2 00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:09,840 This is an edition of the Full Point with myself, Jeremy Deacon 3 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,800 and. And me, Jonathan Starling. 4 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:16,360 And our special guest, Miles Darrell from the Bermuda 5 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:20,160 National Trust. Miles, welcome and thank you for 6 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:22,040 coming along and joining us. It's a privilege. 7 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,640 Well, thank you. I love your podcast and. 8 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:27,920 Yeah. I appreciate being here today. 9 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:29,560 Flatter us as much as you like, mate. 10 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:31,200 I'll get you absolutely everywhere. 11 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,000 What do you want? And no, no, we didn't pay him to 12 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:41,000 say that. I think I always kind of start 13 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:44,840 these interviews by asking who is who is the person. 14 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:48,680 So who is Miles Darrell? Tell us a little bit about Miles 15 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:51,800 Darrell. I'm a I'm a pretty regular guy, 16 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,800 really. I love Bermuda. 17 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:57,080 Bermuda of the year, you're not a regular guy. 18 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,440 Yeah, it's funny that I never would have put that together 19 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:06,840 myself, but I'm very thankful. I think a lot of Bermudians like 20 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,120 to get out, contribute to their community, care about their 21 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,960 families and spend a little time at the beach, try to get outside 22 00:01:13,960 --> 00:01:17,520 when they can and work hard and that's what I try to do. 23 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:21,400 So I think I'm amongst the common here really. 24 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:23,720 I think you're. Being very modest. 25 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,160 But I do, I, I mean, I'm going to try and be modest. 26 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:27,760 I think, I think that's important. 27 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:31,840 And I think that's what helps us to to, to find success really. 28 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:35,360 And. In good and and a bit of 29 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:37,800 humility. Yeah, exactly. 30 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:41,360 But I I'm a person who loves plants, loves the environment, 31 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,760 and loves to spend some time outside if I can. 32 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,160 I'm sure you do a lot of that. I try. 33 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,400 How did you get into the Bermuda National Trust and and tell us 34 00:01:52,800 --> 00:02:00,120 also what you do? There well, I they needed 35 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:04,320 somebody to do their conservation based work and at 36 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,640 the time I was teaching science at Whitney and really keen to 37 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,160 find something that would get me outside a little bit more. 38 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,280 And the National Trust provided just that, you know, an 39 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:17,640 opportunity to get more time outside, still spend time with 40 00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:21,880 students, which I really love to do, and really feel like I'm 41 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,400 contributing to the change that most of us want to see. 42 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:27,320 What? What's your actual like job 43 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:32,960 title there? So my job title is Head of 44 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:34,800 Natural Heritage. OK. 45 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,880 And I've gone through some changes over the years. 46 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:44,960 I've been here for just about 7 years now and I was our 47 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:49,560 conservation officer to start. And then we've made some pretty 48 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:55,280 significant changes in the last 3-4 years in the way we're doing 49 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,960 things. And at that time when we started 50 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:01,720 making changes, we now have a new conservation officer in 51 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:06,360 Ronald Virtual who's a great guy and and I took on a role that 52 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,280 was created as as Head of Natural Heritage. 53 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,560 Excuse me guys, I'm just going to close the window because the 54 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:15,760 lawn mowers just started. It's great these things, isn't 55 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,560 it? Yeah, I imagine your day-to-day 56 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:22,280 job is rather varied, but can you tell us like what, what's 57 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:26,240 like an average day for for you? It really, it really is varied. 58 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:31,040 That's the whole thing between after school groups. 59 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,080 You know, we do after school clubs like our Garden Club on 60 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,520 Wednesdays and our eco club on Fridays that has me out with 61 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,480 students. You know, on any given day we 62 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:44,920 might be with a corporate group out in the field or engaging in 63 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,880 pretty basic maintenance to try and stay on top of of the weeds 64 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,800 and invasive species. But a little more time in the 65 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:56,160 office, right In conservation management plans, reviewing 66 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,200 plans that are going into the planning department. 67 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:03,760 So I, I try to review almost every plan that's submitted to 68 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:07,160 planning department and get an idea of the impact it's going to 69 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:11,120 have on the environment and sometimes make suggestions or 70 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,280 objections where I feel it's necessary. 71 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,360 I guess I sit on a few boards. So of course I contribute in 72 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:20,920 those spaces. I know Jonathan sees me at the 73 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:26,240 ECO, but of course I'm also on the Parks Commission and a few 74 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:30,280 other a few other boards here in Bermuda with regard to education 75 00:04:30,280 --> 00:04:33,480 and things like that. You mentioned that you're a 76 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:37,440 science teacher at Whitney, but you've joined the BNT. 77 00:04:37,840 --> 00:04:40,680 Was that was that more of a calling for you without wanting 78 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:44,160 to put down what you did a Whitney by any means, but it was 79 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,480 that kind of a calling because it was quite a different job. 80 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,720 It is a, it is a different job and I think it aligns with kind 81 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,480 of what I had thought I wanted to do. 82 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:01,000 So that's that's perfect. I studied conservation and 83 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:05,680 terrestrial Land Management in New Zealand and finding work 84 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,640 there is quite difficult because there's a lot of very highly 85 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:14,200 educated people, which is great. And here and there I I could 86 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:19,440 find a contract or two. But to better my CV and increase 87 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:24,960 my earning capacity, I went on to do a post grad diploma in 88 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:29,880 science education. And for a lot of reasons, I came 89 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:31,960 back to Bermuda. One of the big ones is to, to 90 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,560 get closer to family again, but also to care for my grandmother, 91 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,800 who who'd become a little bit ill and now has passed. 92 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:41,760 And so in coming back, definitely need to be employed 93 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,280 in Bermuda. And the opportunity that came 94 00:05:44,280 --> 00:05:46,280 about was through the Ministry of Education. 95 00:05:46,280 --> 00:05:48,880 And you know, there's a lot of good stuff going on there. 96 00:05:49,280 --> 00:05:51,240 I love working with young people. 97 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:55,560 And so it was, it was a good, a good space to start. 98 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:58,320 But I think you're right, working with the trust is more 99 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,800 of a hauling and it really puts me in a space where I can 100 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,160 activate those conservation and terrestrial Land Management 101 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,680 things that I I really feel can benefit Bermuda now. 102 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,560 New Zealand has got some really excellent programs on ecological 103 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:15,080 restoration. There's whole islands where 104 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:18,240 they've eradicated rats and would like to protect the 105 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:21,160 indigenous bird population. Is that what drove you to go to 106 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,720 New Zealand or you just wanted to go as far away from Bermuda 107 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:25,560 as you could? Or? 108 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,240 No. So I've been travelling to New 109 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:39,280 Zealand since the 90s and my now wife of over 24 years is from 110 00:06:39,280 --> 00:06:41,000 New Zealand. So I've been spending a lot of 111 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:45,440 time there for, for quite some time and, and it's a beautiful 112 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:49,400 place. And I think like you said, that 113 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,800 the environmental education was quite good. 114 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:55,640 And I, I took advantage of that opportunity. 115 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:57,120 It was very hands on. It was. 116 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,640 It was a lot of fun. I think the only more I I 117 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:06,200 remember is Kiora. Yeah, and I learned Toreo Maori 118 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:09,360 my my youngest daughter speaks probably much better than I do. 119 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:14,840 But yeah, it's, it's mandatory to learn in school and both my 120 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:19,000 kids went to school there and and benefited from that. 121 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,960 And yeah, I think there's a lot for us and the world to learn 122 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:26,240 from from the relationship, although it's very stretched and 123 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:30,640 tenuous right now in New Zealand that the Maori and Pacquiao or 124 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:38,240 or or colonizer have created. I think if I remember my morai 125 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:41,000 correctly, that just translates as redneck because it got 126 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:49,000 sunburned. Yes, well, kiora is a greeting 127 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,760 and pakiha is a word for colonizer. 128 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:54,920 Right. No. 129 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,960 It's a beautiful country. I've never actually been but I 130 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:00,560 do have family over there so I hope to visit at some. 131 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:02,800 Oh yeah. Yeah, it's on my bucket list. 132 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:06,000 There's a it's, it's funny, there's a lot of Bermudians 133 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,160 there. I did not realize that until 134 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:11,880 going to the University of Waikato. 135 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:17,440 One of my my peers said, oh, there's a few Bermudians over at 136 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:21,320 the cafe right now that walked down and of course we all know 137 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:23,360 each other. And then I got there for the 138 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,640 seagull racing down the Waikato River and ran into lots of other 139 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,320 Bermudians there. It's Bermudians are everywhere. 140 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:35,360 Yeah, a museum is also home to my favorite bird, which I can 141 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:38,840 never pronounce the name the it's a big fat parrot that can't 142 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,159 fly. The Kakapu I think it's called. 143 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,280 Kakapo. Yeah, Kakapo, they're fantastic, 144 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,720 super smart, but they will like tear your car apart. 145 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:55,960 Yes, I've seen that for sure. Coming back to Bermuda now, the 146 00:08:55,960 --> 00:09:01,120 National Trust has a lot of properties, some that have since 147 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:04,040 become national parks. Like Spildo Pond I think was 148 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:07,520 originally part of the National Trust properties but then became 149 00:09:07,560 --> 00:09:10,000 a National Park. I might be slightly mistaken, 150 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,000 but I believe that was kind of an the origin. 151 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:17,000 Well, I mean, I think, I think you're kind of right. 152 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:20,960 One, it is a National Park and it's Bermuda's largest National 153 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:26,560 Park and it is still a Co ownership or stewardship between 154 00:09:26,560 --> 00:09:28,640 the Department of Environment, Natural Resources, Bermuda 155 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:30,720 Government and the Bermuda National Trust. 156 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,520 OK, that was partly right. Yes. 157 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:38,200 How? But how many nature sites does 158 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:45,360 the BNT look after? Well, we, so including buyback 159 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:50,720 Bermuda, it's probably about 17 places, but then you know, we've 160 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:54,480 got offshore islands as well. We're, we're, we're actively 161 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:56,440 caring for. We've got an offshore island or 162 00:09:56,440 --> 00:10:00,280 two that we're not actively caring for if it were, but yet 163 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:03,600 still stewarding. So I think it comes down to 164 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,800 active stewardship versus kind of passive stewardship. 165 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:10,520 Our ability with such a small team to engage in management 166 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:14,560 across all of the, the space that the National Trust has is, 167 00:10:14,560 --> 00:10:16,840 is limited. That's why we we really rely on 168 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:20,280 volunteers in the community. Must be a bit frustrating for 169 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:22,000 you, isn't it? You have all these properties, 170 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,360 but some you just basically have to leave because you haven't got 171 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:28,960 the manpower. I think I think that's true. 172 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:33,760 And to some degree leaving some places unmanaged and, and and 173 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,880 left to nature, even if that's what invasive species is a good 174 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,400 thing. I think the habitat, whether 175 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:42,440 it's native or invasive species, is absolutely necessary, 176 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:45,160 especially when we have so little open space. 177 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:49,840 We certainly do. It's, it's interesting you say 178 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:54,920 that actually, because I always think open space environment 179 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:59,440 versus the economy, the open space and the environment tends 180 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:03,800 to be the ones that miss out if the economy is not doing very 181 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:05,800 well. How do you balance all that? 182 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:10,720 Well, I mean, it's really difficult to balance for the 183 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:13,760 National Trust. We've definitely seen times 184 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:15,200 change. I think things have been 185 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:19,480 improving lately and I think I've probably come in at a good 186 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:21,000 time. So it hasn't been terribly 187 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,360 frustrating for me. I feel very supported here at 188 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,440 the Trust. We've got great corporate 189 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:29,040 sponsorship, we've got great membership, you know, that 190 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:33,440 really make this possible. But I definitely see that it's 191 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,120 when the, the financing isn't there and the economy's in a 192 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:42,160 difficult place, it, it makes, makes it harder to care for the 193 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:44,680 environment 'cause you got so many other things going on. 194 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:49,720 But you know, I, I think the thing I strongly believe is 195 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:53,440 that, you know, caring for the environment and ensuring we have 196 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:56,920 a sturdy, solid, sustainable environment provides for a 197 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:01,000 better and more, you know, conducive tourism product. 198 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:05,600 It also is what draws even the corporate groups that come to 199 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,240 Bermuda here. It is beautiful and we've got to 200 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:12,960 keep it that way to ensure there isn't any frustration or or 201 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:15,720 interest in in walking away because there are so many 202 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:19,120 beautiful places out there and I know that Bermuda is 203 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,200 particularly special. What? 204 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,920 What kind of frustrations do you and and the BNT have? 205 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:32,080 Well, I mean. Your least I suppose and 50 206 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:33,440 some. For one thing, their 207 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:37,600 headquarters is haunted. Oh, I've never heard that. 208 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:39,440 Yeah. Waterville haunted. 209 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:42,320 Oh no. Sorry, one other person has 210 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:44,480 mentioned that I, I'm not worried for that. 211 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:49,600 I'm I'm not a big believer if it were, but but I understand. 212 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:54,960 I think frustrations for us are they might seem small, but you 213 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,840 know, it is the little things that I start that start to add 214 00:12:57,840 --> 00:12:58,640 up. For me. 215 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,560 It's litter. I'm just, I'm tired. 216 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:05,480 I'm tired of picking up litter every day and everywhere I go. 217 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:07,320 I've, I've already done quite a bit today. 218 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:11,400 It's just, it's, it's where we're at as a community, but 219 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:13,840 it's not where we want to be. And so that can be quite 220 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:15,520 frustrating. It's funny, isn't it? 221 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:19,280 Because it there's so many, it's almost like a throwaway society. 222 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:21,000 There seems to be a cultural thing. 223 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,360 You just throw things away. It doesn't matter whether it's a 224 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:26,720 mattress or a fridge or your. Plastic. 225 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,560 Yeah. I think what's hard for me to 226 00:13:29,560 --> 00:13:33,600 appreciate is, yeah, we're a throwaway society. 227 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:37,760 Throwing away goods and Bermuda is at no cost. 228 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:39,880 I mean, you can take it to Times Bay. 229 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:42,800 The governments made the facility available, I think, 230 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:45,480 very reasonable hours. The cost is perfect. 231 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:48,560 Nothing. You can't really do better than 232 00:13:48,560 --> 00:13:51,160 that. And yet we still have a problem 233 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,040 with litter. So that is one of the things 234 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:57,080 that frustrates the trust it, it, I can say that confidently 235 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:01,320 it it it, it frustrates me because open spaces have become 236 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:04,320 the dumping ground for those things that people don't want 237 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:08,200 who can't be bothered to drive to Tynes Bay or feel like their 238 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:10,480 horticultural waste will just break down. 239 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:13,760 So if they leave it there, no one will bother or care. 240 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:19,840 But actually it's just having such a horrendous outcome and 241 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,560 impact. You know, we are a small team. 242 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:27,400 If it's just me and Ronald out there in the field and someone's 243 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:30,400 decided to dump a whole lot of litter in a nature reserve, 244 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:33,920 that's really taking away from the quality monitoring and work 245 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:37,480 that we should be doing. Any other frustrations? 246 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,920 I I understand the little one. I've been on many pickups with 247 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:44,280 KBB and and groups like that and it's what you find in the 248 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:45,680 undergrowth is quite astonishing. 249 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:50,480 Yeah. I mean, I think the frustrations 250 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:55,600 come from the ongoing management of invasive species which are 251 00:14:55,600 --> 00:15:00,520 just rife in Bermuda and make the, you know, our mission, the 252 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:03,480 preservation and protection of natural and cultural heritage. 253 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,160 It just makes it really difficult and it makes it more. 254 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,520 Costly. Give us an idea of the invasive 255 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:10,920 species that people might not realize. 256 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:14,760 Well, I think there's lots that people do realize so that 257 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:16,680 that's. The Office 1 I guess. 258 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,560 Yeah, I mean, that's that's a really obvious one. 259 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:23,280 Kiskadee is another one. Lionfish is another one more 260 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:26,800 recently and and in the paper, but I don't think getting enough 261 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,160 attention is the red imported fire Ant. 262 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:33,480 And and that could probably have a significantly greater impact 263 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:36,440 than than many of the invasives we've ever seen. 264 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:40,320 And of course, on the horizon we've got the lanternfly. 265 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:45,680 So all of these things can impact our agricultural and 266 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,680 capacity and food security, you know, something like the red 267 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:52,600 imported fire and just takes away from your ability to be 268 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:56,200 outside as a whole. It certainly is destructive to a 269 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:58,720 tourism product. That was in the headlines 270 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:03,560 recently the the fire. And are we on top of that now? 271 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:07,920 I don't think so, definitely not. 272 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,600 I think that's what, you know, a pretty major concern. 273 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:15,360 And I think I think the reality of that is it it highlights some 274 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:18,920 bigger issues that we really need to to look at as a as a 275 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:22,960 people, like our bio security is obviously not in a very good 276 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:26,480 place if all these invasive species are making their way in. 277 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:31,480 But then further to that, when we identify invasive species, 278 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,840 are we able to even do anything about it because we haven't put 279 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:39,440 in place things like rapid response funds? 280 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:44,640 We don't have, We certainly don't have any excess staff in 281 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:49,400 government departments. In fact, you know, we've seen in 282 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:54,280 the paper as well in the last year or so how many departments 283 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:58,600 are understaffed and the impact that that's having and DNR is, 284 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:02,400 is, is like the many that are understaffed, making it very 285 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:05,680 difficult to address these very serious issues. 286 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:10,640 I know one of the invasive species that Maxine Pepper 287 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:13,000 hated, but they also surname Cherry. 288 00:17:13,319 --> 00:17:15,359 You know, Bermuda cherry. I love the cherry. 289 00:17:15,599 --> 00:17:19,480 They're great on like a roadside hedge, but you go to somewhere 290 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:23,920 like Blue Hole and like the entire forest is almost cherry 291 00:17:24,079 --> 00:17:26,920 and it doesn't even produce a lot of fruit except at the very 292 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,080 top of the canopy. Exactly. 293 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:32,200 And I think, you know, that's a perfect example of how many of 294 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:38,560 our invasive species, well they have, they have a local native 295 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:44,280 species that is a a very similar counterpart or or relation that 296 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,600 they are taking over the niche. So for that particular species, 297 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,640 Bermuda's white stopper, which is also a Eugenia species, 298 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:54,680 should be the species that we're seeing there. 299 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,640 And the cherry has completely decimated its ability and the 300 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:00,520 ability of many other species to flourish in that space. 301 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:02,520 And. Do these cause? 302 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:03,920 A problem for the National Trust? 303 00:18:05,120 --> 00:18:07,800 Do these things, Do these things cause a bit of a problem for the 304 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:11,080 National Trust in the way you're able to manage your properties? 305 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,600 Well, I mean, they do, but we've we've become quite used to it. 306 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:18,800 And with the amount of invasive species that we have, we're 307 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:22,000 picking and choosing what we're going to address as a priority. 308 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:25,600 And I think the big thing is whatever we do, we've got to do 309 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:28,200 it slow and steady. And it's for the same reason 310 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:31,000 that I said earlier, we don't have a lot of open space, we 311 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:33,680 don't have a lot of habitat. We don't want to clear 312 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:36,240 everything too quickly, especially with the increase in 313 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:40,440 hurricanes and, and, and the strength of those hurricanes. 314 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:42,520 We've got to leave a lot of wind break up. 315 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:46,040 We've got to leave habitats and, and, and intact. 316 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:49,160 And ultimately it means any restoration or conservation work 317 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:53,120 is going to take a long time. So did I interrupted you then? 318 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:56,160 Oh I was just going to mention Guava is also a bit of an 319 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:59,520 invasive, especially more like wetland areas I believe. 320 00:19:00,120 --> 00:19:02,760 Yes. So Pageant Marsh is a perfect 321 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:08,160 example of where you see guava as an invasive species and you 322 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:12,800 also see the Ardysia there. You don't see that proving to be 323 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:14,560 invasive in other parts of the island. 324 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:18,760 So yeah, various habitats have differing invasive species. 325 00:19:19,120 --> 00:19:24,200 And funnily enough, you know, Mexican pepper, Brazilian pepper 326 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:28,120 is, is less a concern than many of the species we're seeing now. 327 00:19:28,120 --> 00:19:31,080 So things are constantly changing and the horizon 328 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:34,000 suggests that there's going to be a totally different landscape 329 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,000 in the future for Bermuda. That's interesting. 330 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:39,360 That's interesting. So the native endemic species 331 00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:43,360 get wiped out. Well, I think many of them 332 00:19:43,360 --> 00:19:48,000 already were, if I'm honest. I think Alison Copeland, or if 333 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:51,400 she may be Doctor Alison Copeland now, her work suggests 334 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:55,120 that, you know, less than 8% of Bermuda's cover is, I think it's 335 00:19:55,120 --> 00:19:58,600 significantly less than that is native and endemic species. 336 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:02,360 So we don't have much left. Well, I'm actually for something 337 00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:05,200 else. I'm interviewing A gentleman who 338 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:08,360 runs a plant nursery specialising in native and 339 00:20:08,360 --> 00:20:12,080 endemic species. I actually can't wait to to go 340 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,680 and see him, see if I can plant in my garden. 341 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,360 Well, I, I can't support that more really. 342 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:20,680 Robin's a great guy. I think that's who you're 343 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:24,400 probably talking about. And he does, yes. 344 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:30,960 And he grows probably 50% of what we plant. 345 00:20:31,120 --> 00:20:34,480 So he he works directly with us, which is great. 346 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:38,160 Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it actually and take some 347 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:41,400 money down there and buy some, buy a few, a few plants to put 348 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:44,320 in, feed the bees in my trees. Can't go wrong. 349 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:47,040 Don't eat too many wipe stoppers though. 350 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:51,960 No, indeed, we talked. We talked about frustrations a 351 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:54,800 minute ago before we came on air. 352 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:58,320 Jonathan, I always have a bit of a chat to, you know, talk about 353 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:01,400 what we're going to talk about. One of the things is Southlands. 354 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:05,400 You must be a little bit frustrated by Southlands. 355 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:11,560 What can you say on your record? Yeah, I, I can say a lot really. 356 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:14,400 I mean, I think that cell phones is an important place. 357 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:20,680 Obviously everyone knows I care a lot about it, and I've been 358 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:24,120 really excited to see so many people get involved in having 359 00:21:24,120 --> 00:21:26,840 their say. So to me, cell phones is like 360 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:32,440 this amazing, you know, thing that's pulled the community 361 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:35,520 together to say, hold on, no, this is important to us and and 362 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:38,920 let the powers that be see that there are parts of the 363 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:41,520 environment that they can't just roll over. 364 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:45,080 They've got to stop, listen, take that community feedback 365 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:48,320 that that community voice and activate from there. 366 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:51,520 So I think there's lots of reasons to be encouraged. 367 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:58,680 We've seen more recently of the removal of some of the planning 368 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:01,400 applications. So that suggests, you know, 369 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:05,200 there's some listening going on. And and of course there's really 370 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:10,360 exciting news with the discovery of Vertigo bermudensis, an 371 00:22:10,360 --> 00:22:15,520 endemic snail at the site. That's phenomenally exciting and 372 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:19,680 we're really happy to see see that come to light and that the 373 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:21,800 minister has that insight as well. 374 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:25,480 And further to that, we're excited that we've been able to, 375 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,320 you know, work with the department to include an 376 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:32,400 invertebrate management plan in the Southlands management plan. 377 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:34,520 So there's lots of good stuff going on. 378 00:22:36,360 --> 00:22:38,680 You don't hear about that good stuff though, unfortunately. 379 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:43,360 I mean you hear about different developments of the old houses 380 00:22:43,360 --> 00:22:46,000 and zip line and and stuff like that. 381 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:50,080 I mean, if that's all well and good, but if you had a magic 382 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:53,000 wand, what would you do to Southland and the BNT? 383 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:56,160 What would you like to see it as well? 384 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:59,800 I mean, we're speaking for miles here. 385 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:04,600 I would love, I would love to see the space given to the 386 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:09,360 Bermuda National Trust because I'd feel more confident that it 387 00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:12,960 would be in a safe space. I don't think that land owned by 388 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:16,480 the government is as protected as land owned by the Bermuda 389 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:21,120 National Trust and I feel like that would put it in a safer 390 00:23:21,120 --> 00:23:22,960 space. So there's one little wish list. 391 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:27,320 I know that will probably never happen, but I'd like to see it 392 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:32,280 to maintained as a passive park that people can use for their 393 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:36,880 family enjoyment with limited noise pollution and light 394 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:40,160 pollution. And really, you know, we need 395 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:41,840 it. I mean, Bermuda is so short of 396 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:44,760 open space that any little bit, especially one that's as green 397 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:47,760 as that on the South Shore is going to be helpful. 398 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:50,680 And I think further to that, it just gives our tourists another 399 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:53,480 thing to visit and enjoy. And I think that's a good thing. 400 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,600 But really, I think it's that high density residential one 401 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:59,760 neighborhood in the Org Rd. area and Warwick that that will 402 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:02,400 benefit most. Yeah, and it is a phenomenal 403 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:04,560 place as well. The trails around there, the 404 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:07,800 trees, the everything is just a fantastic place. 405 00:24:08,120 --> 00:24:10,680 Exactly. Really is What do you think, 406 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:14,320 Jonathan? I have no comment on Southlands. 407 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,920 No comment on. Southlands, but I other than to 408 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:21,000 say it is a beautiful sight with some really amazing trails to 409 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:25,160 explore, a lot of like fantastic allspice and little nooks and 410 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:26,240 crannies. So beautiful. 411 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:28,600 Yeah, it really does. And I'd encourage people to go 412 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:32,080 out there and enjoy, you know, on the weekend, go and choose 413 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:34,880 any park, whatever's close to you, go to Southlands, go 414 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:36,760 wherever. Just get out and touch some 415 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:38,120 grass. You know, it's really nice out 416 00:24:38,120 --> 00:24:40,720 there. Is there anything, any anything 417 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:44,480 afoot for Southlands Miles? He seems to have got a bit quiet 418 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:47,160 on that front. Well, yeah, I mean, it's going 419 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:50,400 to be quiet because it's in the hands of the minister now and 420 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:54,200 he's got, he's got to make some decisions because of course it 421 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:58,480 went to the the Development Applications Board, which turned 422 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:02,160 all of the development down, which they had to because of the 423 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:06,520 lack of a management plan based on our legislation and a few 424 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:10,440 other bits and bobs. But now they, the zip line 425 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:15,480 developer has appealed that that DAB report. 426 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:18,520 And so it goes directly to the minister and the minister will 427 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:21,600 make a decision based on his discretion. 428 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:28,280 You got an input on that? No, I, well, yes, sorry. 429 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:33,040 After the appeal was made, we made a response to the appeal, 430 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:38,600 which was, you know, that was quite timely in that that's 431 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:42,080 similar timing to finding out about the endemic snail, which 432 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:45,120 we thought was extinct. And so I was able to add a 433 00:25:45,120 --> 00:25:48,800 little more insight about concerns for endemic species 434 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:53,400 into the into our appeal letter. Interesting. 435 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:54,920 Well, we're. Pretty cool little snails 436 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:57,040 though, they look like. A few snails are. 437 00:25:57,200 --> 00:25:58,880 Tiny. They're right. 438 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:02,280 I love snails. I'm sorry, I almost did a PhD on 439 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:03,520 snails. Fair enough. 440 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:06,120 Do you? Like snails to eat or just to 441 00:26:06,120 --> 00:26:09,240 play with. The ones you eat are the 442 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:14,680 invasive ones here to steer away from those little Vertigo. 443 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:17,600 Burmudensis is so small you wouldn't get much of a meal 444 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:24,440 there. No, Miles, I want to say you 445 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:29,120 spearheaded or at least part of your work involves these kind of 446 00:26:29,120 --> 00:26:32,080 living Christmas trees, the program that you guys do. 447 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:35,800 Yeah, for sure. So, yeah, that that's been 448 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:38,120 really successful. And this year was was a really 449 00:26:38,120 --> 00:26:41,840 good go. So we grow Cedars. 450 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:46,080 In fact, this year because we've been quite busy and we've got a 451 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:48,720 lot on Robin is growing Cedars for us. 452 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:52,080 And at Christmas time, around the end of November, we sell 453 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:55,680 those Cedars to members and of the public and our membership of 454 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:57,640 course, and some of our corporate groups. 455 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:01,720 And then we choose a date. This year it was January 17th. 456 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:05,880 So after Christmas, after one, everyone's had a holiday, we 457 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:08,600 choose a reserve. We go back there and we plant 458 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:12,880 all of the trees as we continue to, you know, build and develop 459 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:15,320 native and endemic forests across Bermuda. 460 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:18,200 So this year it was at High Point Nature Reserve. 461 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:23,320 I think we planted about 75 trees that day and we've planted 462 00:27:23,360 --> 00:27:26,800 a few more scents, to be fair. But it was nice to see, you 463 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:30,040 know, 75 families come together and, and plant their Christmas 464 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:33,240 trees. And it's just a great, a great 465 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:36,160 opportunity really, and a lot of fun to do. 466 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:38,680 We've we've done it a few times and it's really nice to do. 467 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:41,920 Question How do you grow a cedar tree? 468 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:47,280 Oh, wow. Yeah, patience is critical. 469 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:53,120 But but really all of the trees that we grow, and in fact 90% 470 00:27:53,120 --> 00:27:55,920 of, of all the flora we grow are from seed. 471 00:27:55,920 --> 00:28:00,040 So we have a really, I think we have a really good stock of seed 472 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:01,720 of Bermuda's native and endemic plants. 473 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:06,360 So we've taken the time. We have a very, you know, all 474 00:28:06,360 --> 00:28:08,600 world style. It's very small, but for Bermuda 475 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:11,000 it's quite good. So we can share seed here and 476 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:15,320 there as well. And then, yeah, we have our eco 477 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:18,200 club on Fridays, which is a great opportunity for young 478 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:20,920 people to get together between 4:00 and 6:00 at Government 479 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:26,840 House, the governor has provided this nursery space for us to to 480 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:29,000 propagate. And so we propagate all our 481 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:32,280 seeds there. Once you put that seed into some 482 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:36,200 soil and it sprouts, we will then transfer that into a 483 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,600 slightly larger pot. It'll stay in the nursery, then 484 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:42,800 we'll we'll transfer it one more time to a slightly larger pot 485 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:45,120 again. So you're up potting until it 486 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:49,680 finds its way to a three gallon pot and into our nursery next to 487 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:56,080 Summersfield at Pond House Lane. And after about two years, we 488 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:58,920 see those trees find their way into nature reserves. 489 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:04,040 So literally I can go and pick a few seeds off a cedar tree and 490 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:07,680 plant them in a pot. Absolutely, absolutely. 491 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:10,760 Yeah. I mean, we, I know there's a lot 492 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:14,200 going on in the community around the the genetics of Bermuda 493 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:17,080 Cedars and stuff. And so people are always asking. 494 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:20,920 So I'll just cut to the chase there and say we take seed from 495 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:24,840 very specific trees. So we're taking from Saint James 496 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:29,400 Church in Somerset and that feeds quite a lot of our spaces. 497 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:33,200 And then Devonshire Church, Christchurch, Devonshire, which 498 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:36,360 both are well known for old Cedars. 499 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:39,680 One thing I've always been amazed by, we were talking about 500 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:43,320 invasive species earlier, and the Bermuda cedar is actually an 501 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:47,080 invasive species in Hawaii. All places, yeah. 502 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:51,280 I mean, it's it's not it's not too bad having spent I I went to 503 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:53,680 school in Hawaii as well. I spent a lot of time there. 504 00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:58,440 I spent the whole summer there, actually just passed and there's 505 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:02,440 over they they took 600 trees into a botanical gardens there. 506 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:05,440 Some of them have escaped, but it's not as bad as, let's say 507 00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:08,240 Saint Helena or the Ascension Islands, where it really is 508 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:13,520 invasive, like overtaking. It gives a good genetic 509 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:15,560 diversity stock if we ever needed it. 510 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:19,120 Yeah. Well, we'll see, because 511 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:22,680 actually, from what I've seen and heard already, the genetics 512 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:27,840 in the Ascension Islands and Saint Helena may be compromised. 513 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:31,200 So they're working on sequencing the genome right now. 514 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:33,160 There's two groups working on it. 515 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:37,160 So yeah, we're finding out that see that we already went and 516 00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:40,160 gathered in the ascensions thinking that it could support 517 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:43,320 these. This genetic study proved to 518 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:45,520 already be compromised for some reason so. 519 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:49,520 Something's going on. Well, yeah, those those studies 520 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:52,720 aren't finished yet, so I'll let those people doing the work at 521 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:54,360 the Doctor Weldon. I know. 522 00:30:56,360 --> 00:30:58,840 Oh, I want to be careful. Charles Gosling and his team, 523 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:02,000 there's teams of people working on it and, and I can't wait for 524 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:02,920 them to start sharing. Oh. 525 00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:04,840 It's going to be interesting. Look forward to seeing that. 526 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:08,600 Yeah, you mentioned working with with young people. 527 00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:13,200 There's a lot of people out there who will see the BNT 528 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:17,800 membership as elderly and probably white. 529 00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:21,480 Is that fair? I mean, I think that's a fair 530 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:25,800 statement. I, I don't want to lie here, but 531 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:30,280 I think that, yeah, yeah, no, no, it, it, it, it, Well, you 532 00:31:30,280 --> 00:31:33,160 know what, I think it is a reasonable criticism. 533 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:36,080 That's OK. But it's something that we're 534 00:31:36,080 --> 00:31:40,040 actively working on. And I think that it's just, like 535 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:42,760 I, I said earlier, you know, stewardship of Bermuda is going 536 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:46,400 to take everybody really. And if our membership is limited 537 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:51,400 by age or race, it limits our capacity to meet our goal. 538 00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:54,080 And so that's something we're actively working on all the 539 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:56,120 time. And I think that I think that 540 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:59,560 we've been making some good strides in recent times to 541 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:05,560 really tell a fuller story and, and be more true and also 542 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:10,080 respond to criticisms and concerns in the community. 543 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:13,360 So it's it's improving, but it's going to take time. 544 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:16,400 Yeah, yeah, like everything, it's perceptions, isn't it? 545 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:20,640 Yeah, and I think, I think we're doing better to get more people 546 00:32:20,640 --> 00:32:24,440 into our spaces, both into our museums and into our nature 547 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:28,240 reserves and really get clear on why these things are so 548 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:30,680 important. And as we do, our membership 549 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:33,240 will grow. And I, I think, you know, 550 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:36,760 working with young people is a priority for the trust in so 551 00:32:36,760 --> 00:32:39,840 many ways. We have an education coordinator 552 00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:42,880 who does an amazing job here. You know, Doctor Andrews, 553 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:46,160 working with cultural heritage, is constantly working with 554 00:32:46,280 --> 00:32:50,800 students to try and bring them in and so of course I'm doing 555 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:53,480 the same. We know that's the future and 556 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:56,160 we're going to need people who are excited and keen and and 557 00:32:56,160 --> 00:33:03,080 probably smarter than me. I was wondering do you have a 558 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:06,360 favorite nature reserve like National Trust Nature location? 559 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:11,040 Wow. I, I do have favorites. 560 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:15,640 I mean, I want to be careful. So I have a favorite right now 561 00:33:15,640 --> 00:33:18,160 that I think is particularly special, but it's not one that 562 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:20,280 I'm going to encourage anyone to go to. 563 00:33:20,280 --> 00:33:21,960 So that's why I'm hesitant to mention it. 564 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:26,320 But Palm and Morgan Island in Ely's harbor are very special 565 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:29,840 places. And that's why we don't let the 566 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:34,560 public use those islands because they are being protected and 567 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:36,640 conserved. And so they're, they're 568 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:39,280 particularly special. Of course, I thought it might be 569 00:33:39,280 --> 00:33:43,320 special for you because we, we released 14,000 endemic snails 570 00:33:43,320 --> 00:33:45,920 there about, I want to say five years ago. 571 00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:49,240 Yeah. And it was a huge, you know, 572 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:51,280 we're still struggling with rats. 573 00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:53,640 Of course, it's, it's the other reason you don't want to go 574 00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:56,560 there is it's overwhelmingly populated with Poison Ivy. 575 00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:01,680 So it is a dangerous place. But but for, for the public and 576 00:34:01,680 --> 00:34:04,240 the places that I like to visit, there's definitely some little 577 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:08,199 gems. And I think, you know, Marjorie 578 00:34:08,199 --> 00:34:13,280 Jackson Nature Reserve, which is tiny on West Side Rd. in 579 00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:16,120 Somerset is a place I'd like to spend a little bit of time. 580 00:34:16,719 --> 00:34:20,400 And it is very small. I'm just being really clear 581 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:22,560 about that. But it's a great place to sit, 582 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:25,760 watch long tails, look at the ocean. 583 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:28,080 You can even get in if you want to. 584 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:32,280 There's nice benches there and we're getting ready to 585 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:35,080 commemorate Eugene Bregman there. 586 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:38,320 Anyone who knows him from Somerset will be commemorating 587 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:40,159 him, him. And so at the bench, you'll see 588 00:34:40,159 --> 00:34:43,560 bronze plaque. But yeah, that, that's a nice 589 00:34:43,560 --> 00:34:44,400 gem. I think. 590 00:34:44,400 --> 00:34:47,440 Somerset long day, if anyone came to the Palm Sunday walk, it 591 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:51,239 is again, a really special, a special spot. 592 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:57,680 So yeah, the trust has has many. The Palm Sunday walk is a 593 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:00,520 fantastic, I know it's just happened, but it's a fantastic 594 00:35:00,520 --> 00:35:03,760 way of seeing Bermuda and the National Trust land. 595 00:35:04,240 --> 00:35:06,800 It really is. I mean, I think, I think that's 596 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:10,520 definitely like the quintessential way to see big 597 00:35:10,520 --> 00:35:14,920 parts of Bermuda in one go. I think alternatively joining in 598 00:35:14,920 --> 00:35:18,720 one of our community days, which we do monthly, on one Saturday a 599 00:35:18,720 --> 00:35:22,560 month we go to a different nature reserve and we just get 600 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:24,520 right in. We know we start with a tour, we 601 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:27,400 do a little hands on work, it's community based. 602 00:35:27,400 --> 00:35:30,080 A lot of chatting gives us a chance to get a little feedback, 603 00:35:30,440 --> 00:35:33,360 but it also gives people a chance to see what we're doing, 604 00:35:33,360 --> 00:35:36,000 what our intentions are, what we hope to see in the long term. 605 00:35:36,360 --> 00:35:38,560 If they haven't, read our conservation management plans. 606 00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:42,240 What are the upcoming nature reserves for that Community Day? 607 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:47,640 Well, this Saturday, so that's four days away, we're going to 608 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:52,240 be at Sherwin Nature Reserve, which is like really dear to me. 609 00:35:52,240 --> 00:35:54,760 And it's one of the, the bigger projects I've been kind of 610 00:35:54,760 --> 00:35:57,960 working on for about four or five years now. 611 00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:01,680 And it has another 25 or or 30 years in it. 612 00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:05,640 But we're going to be there in the Railway Trail just off 613 00:36:05,640 --> 00:36:08,920 Bulkhead Lane. And it's a Bulkhead Dr. Sorry, 614 00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:12,160 it's a, it's a beautiful spot behind Work Pond. 615 00:36:12,680 --> 00:36:15,040 And we've been working on cleaning it up. 616 00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:21,320 We took about 2025 truckloads of bottles and bike parts and 617 00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:24,560 refrigerators and washers and the car or two out of there. 618 00:36:24,560 --> 00:36:29,160 And we've planted a many hundreds, maybe into the 619 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:32,520 thousands of maid of an endemic as we rebuild that habitat now. 620 00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:35,400 And so that'll be a great opportunity for people to get 621 00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:38,720 out. Last month we were at Scour 622 00:36:38,720 --> 00:36:44,200 Nature Reserve and so So Sorry Somerset and and we try to go to 623 00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:47,000 a different area every month so people can see something 624 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:48,600 different and ask different questions. 625 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:52,400 And if people wanted to join you, how how should we direct 626 00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:55,160 them to go to the BNT website or I? 627 00:36:55,200 --> 00:36:58,440 Think so. I mean at the BNT dot BM, it 628 00:36:58,440 --> 00:37:01,640 can't get easier than that. On top of that, it's a chance to 629 00:37:02,080 --> 00:37:04,640 see a little bit about the other opportunities that we have 630 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:07,440 because, you know, there's so much more than our nature 631 00:37:07,440 --> 00:37:13,160 reserves, our museums, the stories we put our, you know, 632 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:16,560 various letters of objection. If people want to see the things 633 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:19,240 we're actually concerned about, articles that we've been writing 634 00:37:19,240 --> 00:37:23,440 for the paper, all that kind of insight we make available, and 635 00:37:23,440 --> 00:37:28,360 it's just a great resource. It's the journalist. 636 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:31,920 Do me, Miles, apologies for this, but I've got to ask this 637 00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:33,680 question. You said earlier on that you're 638 00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:38,720 on the Parks Commission, that that is the reconstituted Parks 639 00:37:38,720 --> 00:37:42,520 Commission, presumably. Is it, is it working and is it? 640 00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:46,640 Is it because obviously a former minister, Colonel Birch, 641 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:50,240 abolished it? Yeah. 642 00:37:50,280 --> 00:37:53,720 I mean, I don't to this day fully understand why that 643 00:37:53,720 --> 00:37:56,080 happened. I was on that Commission as 644 00:37:56,080 --> 00:38:00,040 well, and now on the new Commission overseen by, I guess, 645 00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:04,800 Joshea Adams. I think there's good stuff 646 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:06,960 happening there. I think there's people there 647 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:10,160 that sincerely care about Bermuda and are, are trying to 648 00:38:10,160 --> 00:38:14,640 put good ideas forward and discourage, you know, bad ideas 649 00:38:14,640 --> 00:38:16,800 because, you know, they come forward at times. 650 00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:20,520 And the one thing I do know is that there's a wealth of 651 00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:23,960 knowledge in that group, you know, from so many different 652 00:38:23,960 --> 00:38:29,400 areas that ultimately I think it's certainly a great place for 653 00:38:29,400 --> 00:38:33,160 the minister to get advice. Now, whether he chooses to take 654 00:38:33,160 --> 00:38:36,560 it or not, I that's on him. But I definitely think he's got 655 00:38:36,560 --> 00:38:40,360 a good resource there and people that sincerely care and have the 656 00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:42,600 capacity to provide the necessary advice. 657 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:45,280 So that's really. It's working as as it should 658 00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:48,840 work. I think there's room for 659 00:38:48,840 --> 00:38:51,040 improvement. You know, I don't, I don't want 660 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:56,480 to not say that because there's definitely is, but you know, 661 00:38:57,440 --> 00:39:00,120 it's, it's definitely going to be a work in progress for some 662 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:03,640 time. Just like I mentioned about DNR, 663 00:39:04,360 --> 00:39:09,040 you know, the Parks Department is significantly understaffed. 664 00:39:09,480 --> 00:39:14,640 And so as a result, their ability to be true to even just 665 00:39:14,640 --> 00:39:18,640 legislative legislation that they're obliged to follow is 666 00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:23,640 sometimes proved difficult. No, it's a shame. 667 00:39:23,640 --> 00:39:25,720 Hopefully, hopefully that will be fixed. 668 00:39:26,680 --> 00:39:28,920 Hopefully. Yeah, maybe. 669 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:31,160 I think it's going to take time, but I think we got to, as a 670 00:39:31,160 --> 00:39:35,920 community, we've got to tell our, our, our politicians, our, 671 00:39:35,920 --> 00:39:41,480 our, our, I mean, even our, our parish councils, our leadership 672 00:39:41,840 --> 00:39:44,040 that we expect more, that we want more. 673 00:39:44,040 --> 00:39:47,520 And that we want to see these spaces cared for, maintain and 674 00:39:47,520 --> 00:39:50,640 managed, you know, ideally at best practice, but at the very 675 00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:52,960 least at the standard that represents Bermuda in a way 676 00:39:52,960 --> 00:39:56,560 we're all proud of. I think that's a great. 677 00:39:56,680 --> 00:39:57,960 You've got any more questions, Jonathan? 678 00:39:57,960 --> 00:40:00,640 I thought that was a great way to wind up, unless you. 679 00:40:00,760 --> 00:40:03,280 I've got one last question. OK. 680 00:40:03,880 --> 00:40:08,280 OK, so Miles my the nature of my work is desk based. 681 00:40:08,280 --> 00:40:11,320 I'm sitting at a computer all day in an office. 682 00:40:11,880 --> 00:40:16,240 So when I want to unwind, I go to a nature reserve or I go sit 683 00:40:16,240 --> 00:40:17,240 off in the rocks. And. 684 00:40:17,680 --> 00:40:21,560 Watch the sunset now you you work in the field all day is 685 00:40:21,560 --> 00:40:23,680 your way of recreation to sit at the desk. 686 00:40:25,920 --> 00:40:31,520 Not at all now I could never get enough time outside. 687 00:40:31,520 --> 00:40:34,920 If I'm honest with you. I love it. 688 00:40:34,920 --> 00:40:38,240 I mean really just you described it perfectly. 689 00:40:39,800 --> 00:40:43,120 If it wasn't for eco tonight, which I might see you at. 690 00:40:44,160 --> 00:40:46,800 And my daughter is a is a cello player. 691 00:40:46,800 --> 00:40:49,280 So I'm getting her to cello. Usually I drop her to cello 692 00:40:49,280 --> 00:40:51,960 lesson. I head straight over to pontoons 693 00:40:52,440 --> 00:40:56,720 and I'm waiting to see the first swallows come across pontoons 694 00:40:56,720 --> 00:40:59,440 right now. So yeah, I don't know. 695 00:40:59,760 --> 00:41:02,440 Even in my time off, I want to be outside. 696 00:41:03,680 --> 00:41:05,640 That's fantastic. Nice. 697 00:41:05,680 --> 00:41:09,000 Well, thank, thank you very much for for joining us. 698 00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:13,160 I think we shed a light, some light on you and your work and 699 00:41:13,440 --> 00:41:16,920 and hopefully the BNT and just a reminder to people it's couldn't 700 00:41:16,920 --> 00:41:21,160 be easy at BNT dot BM go and see what they've got going and join 701 00:41:21,160 --> 00:41:23,760 in and enjoy, enjoy the countryside. 702 00:41:24,160 --> 00:41:26,400 For sure. Hey, thank you so much for 703 00:41:26,400 --> 00:41:28,200 having me. It's been a pleasure. 704 00:41:28,200 --> 00:41:29,680 Thank you very much and take care. 705 00:41:30,040 --> 00:41:32,080 All right, you too. Bye.