The Bermuda National Trust has welcomed the idea of proposals to transform the old Riddell’s Bay Golf and Country Club in Warwick into a 50-acre nature reserve.

But the charity, whose objective is preserving many of the island’s open spaces, has urged investors behind the scheme to consult with the Trust as plans progress. A group of local investors has purchased the property. It hopes to use the majority of the land as a conservation zone, although the deal has not been finalised.

The group has said only a “minimal amount of land on the outer fringes of the property” would be kept for “very low-impact, restricted, residential lots” and not condominiums.

Bill Zuill, the Trust’s executive director, told The Royal Gazette: “We have not seen any of the plans as yet, but we would hope to have some discussions with the proposed buyers soon.

“In principle, the Trust naturally welcomes the idea of establishing nature reserves but we would need to know much more about the proposal, especially how much of the land would be rezoned and set aside for sale and development and where it is located, before we can take a position for or against the idea.

“We do not know enough about it at the moment, but we would certainly hope that the investors would talk to us and consult with us.

“That has not happened, but we would welcome it. We would like to be part of the conversation.”

The new plans also call for the planting of more than 500 endemics and “stunning natural gardens”, significantly larger than the 36-acre Botanical Gardens.

Riddell’s Bay, Bermuda’s oldest course, closed abruptly on March 31 after nearly a century because the club could not meet operational costs.

The group of investors, the majority of whom are Bermudian, met with residents in October to outline their vision.

They maintain that the majority of local residents are in favour of the project.