A simple gesture to join a global environmental cause returns to Bermuda for its eighteenth year this weekend.

Businesses and homes were asked to join the Earth Hour movement by switching off unnecessary lights from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on Saturday.

This year’s commemoration will come with a host of extra ecologically conscious activities offered by the environmental charity Greenrock leading up to Earth Day on April 22.

Eugene Dean, the chairman of Greenrock, told The Royal Gazette: “There has been a misconception that Earth Hour is meant to save electricity — that’s not the idea.

“From a country perspective, the idea is that the parishes and major buildings go dark, and that shows huge support for nature.

“This is a global initiative developed in response to the rapid loss of nature that has accelerated over the last 50 years.

“The hope is that the support leads to action by leaders that put legislation or programmes in place that support the preservation of nature.”

Mr Dean said the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club had “come on board with Earth Hour as an iconic location” and that there were “other companies that we are in communication with in the hope that they will participate.”

“At this time of year we’re always happy to share and communicate with the likes of the Corporation of Hamilton, the Corporation of St George and the Bermuda Land Management Corporation.”

Greenrock will also host a live broadcast on Earth Day from 8pm to 10pm on Channel 82 as well as the charity’s YouTube channel, to include interviews on local environmental issues.

Additionally, this Earth Hour will honour the role of women in environmental preservation and sustainability.

Mr Dean said that homes and businesses would not need to go completely dark for Earth Hour, but make a show of switching off unnecessary outdoor lighting for 60 minutes in support.

He added: “Some may choose to turn their lights off and use Earth Hour as an opportunity to reflect on life and our impact on nature.

“The key thing is what we do beyond the hour. That’s where the idea of giving an hour for the Earth comes in. This is a concept called time-banking, which is consistent with what the World Wildlife Fund is calling for.

“It’s not just about what we do during Earth Hour, which is largely symbolic, but what we do beyond it.”

Mr Dean asked residents to visit the Greenrock website to register for events spanning the lead-up to April 22 as a way of “committing time to nature and positive action”.

He said: “We are anticipating from now until Earth Day that we will continue our campaign with appearances on radio as well as talks in schools and companies.”

Saturday night also comes with a Sacred Earth Circle to be held from 8pm to 10pm at the Treehouse yoga and wellness hub on Trott Road, off Church Street in Hamilton.

A community clean-up in partnership with Keep Bermuda Beautiful will be held on April 6 along Kindley Field in St George’s from 11am to 1pm.

On April 13, a “natural healing walk“ from 8am to 11am will take participants around the Cooper’s Island reserve in St David’s to explore wild edible plants.

A presentation on sustainable farming will be held on April 19 from 1pm to 3pm at the Food Forest agricultural centre in Sandys.

On May 4, members of the public are encouraged to join Myles Darrell of the Bermuda National Trust from 9am to 1pm for a bicycle tour of the highlights of the Railway Trail, setting out from the trust’s headquarters at Waterville in Paget to Dockyard.

Details and registration links are on the Greenrock website.

Mr Dean said: “We’re also encouraging people to do things on their own. We have a list of ideas on our website to spend time in nature, take time to learn about nature, giving at least an hour to restore nature, and to take time to inspire others to learn about nature.”

He said that there had been “a huge loss in our connections with nature, across the community”.

“What I do find is that the children are more inclined towards nature. They are motivated and inspired,” Mr Dean added.

“I get a lot of hope and inspiration from engagement with young people.

“A major challenge is that the adult population can set a poor example in that regard.”