A freshly prepared green space rich in endemic trees was declared the King’s Coronation Garden on Saturday in a ceremony at the Bermuda Botanical Gardens in Paget.

Part of the Micro Forest Project begun in 2021 by the Bermuda Zoological Society, the latest garden repurposed what was once a lunch area for Department of Parks staff next to the old maintenance yard in the park.

The opening of the garden came with the commemorative planting of a Bermuda cedar, which celebrated the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla early this morning in London.

Tom Oppenheim, the Acting Governor, joined Walter Roban, the Acting Premier, with staff of the Department of Parks who worked with the BZS, and officials from HSBC, Renaissance Re and other corporate sponsors.

Remi Subair, former acting director of parks, gave a salute to department staff for pitching in to create the area with more than 500 endemic and native plants from across 20 species — all while organising the latest Agricultural Exhibition.

Mr Oppenheim said: “This lovely garden provides a profoundly relevant and appropriate backdrop highlighting the importance of the natural environment to health, wellbeing and happiness.”

He added that it was symbolic of the King’s passion for the natural environment as well as “a reminder of the depth and significant of the longstanding relationship between Bermuda and the United Kingdom”.

Mr Roban said: “The conversion of this space we see here into a micro forest is a lasting and fitting way to mark the events the world witnessed earlier today in London.

“His Majesty the King has been an ardent environmentalist in the truest sense for many years.

“We not only pay tribute to his important work, but create a space for the ages here in Bermuda.”

Mr Roban said the garden, which comes with benches for visitors to rest and enjoy the park, was “an example of what we can all do throughout Bermuda”.

“My hope is that this space will make a treasured addition to the beautiful Botanical Gardens and will be enjoyed by all residents.”

Along with cedars and olivewood trees, the new garden sports lesser known endemic plants such as the flowering blue vervain and Jamaican dogwood.

At just under 425 square metres, it also features Easter lilies provided by Bermuda farmers — who traditionally send the springtime flowers as an Easter gift to the King, and before his accession, to the late Queen Elizabeth II.