redevelop the National Equestrian Centre in Devonshire falls at the first fence.

For the National Trust, Audubon Society and Save Open Spaces have teamed up to place an advert in tomorrow's edition of The Royal Gazette urging the community to lodge protests against the Bermuda Equestrian Federation's plans.

And National Trust conservation officer Cathy Gosling said: "I'm hoping we will get a lot of support.

"We certainly should -- people ought to be upset about this. It's a matter of educating them.'' And she predicted: "Once people realise that fully -- the huge area they are planning to take out of the hillside and the quality of woodland which the developer keeps claiming is insignificant -- people will back us.'' The advert is the latest shot in the battle against the plan to expand the centre into a first-clas international-class arena.