The natural splendour and history of the Spittal Pond Nature Reserve was shared with 245 children, teachers, camp leaders and parents who joined the Bermuda National Trust’s Annual Children’s Nature Walk.

The 64-acre conservation area on South Shore in Smith’s features extensive wetlands and Bermuda’s largest bird sanctuary.

Its history and significance was outlined by Dörte Horsfield of the BNT and Jamie Bacon and Alex Amat from the Bermuda Zoological Society explained pond biology and chemistry.

Alison Copeland from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources gave a talk on the pond’s plant life.

David Wingate and Devika Mather of the Bermuda Audubon Society showed the resident and migratory birds that live in the reserve.

Bermudian artist Ronnie Chameau told the story of Jeffrey, an escaped slave who hid in a cave at Spittal Pond and explained how he might have made a fish trap from palmetto leaves.

Meredith Ebbin, an author and historian, told the story of Portuguese Rock, the oldest evidence of human presence on the island.

Robbie Smith, curator of the Natural History Museum at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, explained the formation of the reserve’s chequerboard geological formation of marine limestone.

The area’s dairy farming was the subject of a talk at the end of the walk, held on Thursday, by Tommy Sinclair, the government agriculture officer, and Charna Stowe, the government veterinary assistant, with the help of dairy staff.

Spittal Pond is owned by the Bermuda National Trust and the Bermuda Government.

The trust’s walk was supported by sponsors Arch Re, Barritt’s, Butterfield & Vallis, and numerous volunteers.