After two years of “sweat and hard work” HSBC Bermuda will tomorrow open more acreage of Cooper's Island Nature Reserve to the public.Bank CEO Phil Butterfield spoke yesterday on what he called the opening of an “absolutely outstanding piece of property for Bermudians and visitors to come and enjoy”.HSBC Bermuda joined forces with the Ministry of the Environment and the Department of Conservation Services in 2009 to restore the reserve in honour of the Island's 400th anniversary.Since then, staff have volunteered their time to remove invasive and plant endemic species on the property.Tomorrow the restored area will be accessible to the public and according to Mr Butterfield “will be a point of attraction for all Bermudians, their friends and visitors”.So far nearly five acres have been restored and made safe for the public, said conservation officer Jeremy Madeiros. The entire Island, totalling 77 acres, will take 15 to 20 years before it has all been returned to its original state before settlement.Acting Public Works Minister Zane DeSilva represented Government at the unveiling yesterday.He said: “Today, after an exciting partnership with HSBC Bermuda that has included much sweat and hard work and hopefully minimal blood and tears, for the first time in a generation this extraordinary piece of Bermuda will be open to the public and this is just the beginning.“Over the next ten years the plan is to transform the Cooper's Island Nature Reserve into Bermuda's largest eco-destination and an essential extension to the living museum of the internationally recognised Nonsuch Island Nature Reserve.“It will attract locals and visitors who can experience Bermuda as they have never experienced and lose themselves in nature,” Mr DeSilva added.Over the past two years HSBC Bermuda has assisted in the demolition of four “robustly” constructed buildings, totalling approximately 32,000 sq ft.Bank volunteers also helped to demolish several three-storey radar mounts and three ammunition bunkers dating back to the Second World War. They also dug 400 tree pits in preparation for planting of native and endemic plants.Cooper's Island, located at the extreme south-east point of Bermuda, used to house the NASA tracking station.Mr DeSilva called the site “a Mecca of protected sea birds” and said its reopening could revitalise the Island's tourism product and help tap into new markets.“This will be one of the best spots for viewing both longtails and cahows coming to roost on Nonsuch Island and other small islands to the south.“For those who know about keen Audubon enthusiasts, you will know there is a list that everyone is trying to complete birds they have observed in the wild.“There are 48 million birders in the US alone, and many of them, I'm sure, would love nothing more than to come to Bermuda and see perhaps the rarest bird in the world our Bermuda cahow. That's quite a market to tap for local tourism.”He said the Cooper's Island reserve also provided one of the best habitats for the Bermuda skink.l Useful websites: www.hsbc.bm; www.gov.bm.See Editorial PageFor more picture seehttp://www.royalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/tngallery?Site=RG&Date=20110616&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=616009995&Ref=PH