charities market is in the works, Rotarians heard yesterday.

And while the fund may take years to become viable, it is part of a Strategic Plan to better protect Bermuda's natural, architectural and craft heritage, Trust Director Amanda Outerbridge told the Rotarians.

For the first time the BNT has hired an Education Officer to promote its goals in the schools, getting young people interested and involved in conservation -- to create a people for which what makes us all Bermudian is understood, and preserved.

As a result of the need to modernise, the BNT has had to re-evaluate its role in society, refocusing on its three pronged attack of education, preservation, and advocacy.

From its origins as the Historical Monuments Trust in 1937, to its first transformation in 1970, the Trust has worked to buy or obtain through donation houses, art, furniture and acres of open space, saving them from development or destruction.

Currently the Trust is the Island's largest private landowner with 250 acres of open space, 64 properties, and 27 historic buildings in its holdings.

It also holds the largest and best collection of decorative arts made or owned by Bermudians throughout settlement.

But the Trust has had a wider impact in raising the level of consciousness among Bermudians of their need to protect their heritage or allow it to "go the way of the cahow'' as was thought during the early years.

The Trust has decided to give education a stronger focus in its programme, marketing itself to the public because "people are unlikely to want to preserve what they do not know about'', Ms Outerbridge said.

The long running series on the historic buildings of the nine Parishes continues with the research for the fourth and fifth volumes underway.

And next year Springfield in Somerset will be the site of a major archaeological dig.

Preservation of the buildings within the BNT collection will continue, but a decision has been made that time and energy would be better spent on providing advice and resources to property owners.

"Ownership alone limits our usefulness -- and looking after property is very expensive,'' she added. "In partnership with the Department of Planning, we are producing a guide on how to care for traditional buildings.'' Advocacy of conservation has always been an important role for the BNT, keeping a watch on the balance between development and preservation.

Ms Outerbridge said: "It is one of our most visible roles. A strong membership gives us a meaningful voice for conservation.

"It enables the Trust to speak with authority and credibility for Bermuda's heritage,'' she added. "The challenges of progress are numerous for a small island. Our aim is to ensure the best possible future for Bermuda -- and our heritage.

"We review trends which could have an impact on our environment. We study individual developments which will either by virtue of their size or location constitute a possible risk to our environment. We watch for encroachments on protectively zoned areas.'' Ms Outerbridge continued: "Our responses are deliberated on by a number of people on various committees.

"The next few years will be critical to Bermuda environmentally and our strategic plan initiatives -- including acquisition of remaining open spaces and a continuing active role in the field of advocacy -- will be key to fulfilling our mandate.'' Concluding, Ms Outerbridge said: "We always need your financial assistance, of course! "In that regard, we have plans to make the National Trust more financially stable, less subject to the vagaries of fund raising,'' she continued.

"Individuals and companies in Bermuda are extraordinarily generous to us, but their ability to give is not guaranteed forever.

"Our goal is to lessen the Trust's vulnerability by substantially increasing an endowment fund to ensure the Trust will be able to do its work long into the future. We know this could take years and we need to make a serious start soon.'' Ms Outerbridge concluded by inviting Rotarians to join the National Trust, telling them it will protect the "unique and valuable'' parts of our heritage "for everyone, forever''.

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