The Bermuda National Trust showed young people the beauty of Spittal Pond yesterday as part of the charity’s annual nature walk for children

About 140 children, parents, grandparents and camp leaders took part in the free event, which was sponsored by Arch and highlighted plants, wildlife and cultural heritage spots including Portuguese Rock and Jeffrey’s Cave.

Karen Border, the BNT executive director, said: “This annual event gets children outside for a couple of hours in one of Bermuda’s most important natural spaces.

“Our hope is that they have a fun morning exploring the reserve and connecting with nature.

“Hopefully, they will want to come back again and again as they grow and learn to become good stewards of the environment.”

The 64-acre reserve is one of the BNT’s most significant open spaces held in trust for the Bermuda community, serving as the island’s largest bird sanctuary.

Myles Darrell, the BNT’s head of natural heritage, introduced children at the event to the reserve and the charity’s Dörte Horsfield talked to them about pond life.

Erich and Janice Hetzel, of the Bermuda Audubon Society, spoke about local and visiting birds, and helped the children observe wildlife through a scope.

Kim Dismont Robinson, the Director of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, told the story of Jeffrey’s Cave, where an enslaved man was said to have hidden from his enslavers for several weeks, while Jeff Sousa talked about the significance of Portuguese Rock, the oldest evidence of humans on the island.

Robbie Smith explained the geology of the “checkerboard” rock formation and the natural forces that shaped Bermuda, and Andrew Stevenson talked about humpback whales, which could be seen spouting and surfacing off the coast.

Spittal Pond is owned by the BNT and the surrounding parkland is owned by the Bermuda Government.

• Anyone interested in more information about Spittal Pond or private tours can contact education@bnt.bm