Karen Grissette, the new US Consul General, was joined by cadets from the visiting US Coast Guard training ship Eagle visiting the Bermuda National Trust’s headquarters in Paget for a tree planting ceremony.

Ms Grissette met Karen Border, the charity’s executive director and Dörte Horsfield, the director of development, to discuss the charity’s work, before planting a Bermuda Palmetto.

She said: “Planting a Bermuda Palmetto here at Waterville is a lovely symbol of the continued strengthening of the relationship between the United States and Bermuda.

“I am particularly proud of the USCG Eagle cadets who assisted the Bermuda National Trust today in its effort to protect and promote Bermuda’s unique and beautiful natural and cultural heritage.”

Myles Darrell, the head of natural heritage at the charity, said the cadets showed themselves to be hard workers.

Mr Darrell added: “They were happy to get stuck in and get dirty and sweaty and they achieved a great deal in a short space of time.”