Individuals and organisations that have worked to protect and promote Bermuda’s natural and cultural heritage were recognised for their efforts at an awards ceremony

The Bermuda National Trust’s annual heritage awards were held at the organisation’s Verdmont Museum last Thursday.

Certificates were presented by the charity’s president, Alana Anderson, and Kim Swan, the Junior Minister of Culture.

The Bermudiana Award for Natural Heritage Impact went to the Bermuda Zoological Society for its Micro Forest project. Natural Heritage Award certificates were also presented to Patrick Cooper and Steven DeSilva of the Corporation of Hamilton for the creation of Donleigh Park tree farm, and Christ Church, Warwick, for adopting environmentally friendly landscape methods in the church grounds.

The Cultural Heritage Impact Award, the top honour in the cultural heritage section, went to the Department of Culture for its long-running cultural apprenticeship programme that pairs tradition bearers with young people interested in learning practical skills and knowledge of aspects of Bermuda’s cultural heritage.

Recipients of Cultural Heritage Award certificates included Manuel Lopes, for restoring old Bermuda carriages, as well as the Friends of St Peter’s Church for the restoration of the church clock and training two Bermudians to maintain it.

They were joined by Cecille Snaith-Simmons to recognise the many articles on a broad range of cultural heritage topics she researched and wrote, and Holy Trinity Church for the thoughtful celebration of its 400th anniversary, which involved many cultural and community partners.

There were two awards for restorations or renovations of historic buildings.

Guy and Annabel Cooper, Geoff Parker and F Lewis Maintenance were commended for the sensitive renovation of Grade 2-listed Southcote in Paget; while Butterfield Bank was recognised for its renovation of the historic Front Street banking centre to its 1923 design, for the building’s 100th anniversary.

The Young Heritage Leadership Award, presented to a young person in recognition of outstanding contribution to Bermuda’s cultural heritage, went to Xander Cook for his commitment to Bermuda archaeology.

Mr Cook, 26, who was working towards a doctorate in archaeology, has been involved in a number of local archaeology projects.

Diana Chudleigh was awarded the DeForest Trimingham Awareness Award for her History of a House book series on four important Bermuda National Trust buildings — Waterville, Verdmont, Tucker House and Globe Museum.

The Globe book was published early this year, completing the series, which told the stories of the properties and the people who lived and worked in them.

In the Service to the Trust category, the BNT’s highest honour — the Palmetto Award — was presented to Mariette Savoie for exceptional service to the charity since 2009 as a member of the council, finance committee and governance committee, and as chairwoman of the fundraising dinner committee for three years.

John Cox received the President’s Award for decades of support of BNT in many ways, including volunteering at Verdmont, holding ghost storytelling events, opening his historic home and gardens for tour groups and for hosting the 2023 gala dinner for more than 300 people at his property, Orange Valley House.

Four people were awarded Honorary Life Membership for their exceptional service to the BNT:

• Alana Anderson received Honorary Life Membership for 20 years of exemplary voluntary service, 16 of them on the BNT’s council, including serving as president from 2017 to 2024

• Beryl Bartlett was recognised for more than 25 years of dedicated volunteering, particularly for the annual bake sale and more recently as a receptionist at Waterville

• Tiffany Banner was recognised for her dedicated volunteering for trust museums, the Trustworthy gift shop and fundraising dinners

• Linda O’Shea was recognised for more than a decade of voluntary service on the Museums & Collections Committee and exceptional support for the annual auction

• Peter Frith was awarded a Volunteer Service Award for his dedicated volunteering for trust museums.

• BNT staff Myles Darrell, Lauren Simons, Jordan Smith and Anna Stevenson were recognised for five years of service.