International celebration "What I was able to do,'' she adds, "was to take what had proven useful in the UK and then adapt it to suit Bermuda -- after all, there is no point in re-inventing the wheel!'' Thanks to funding from The Garden Club of Bermuda, the Bermuda Zoological Society, the Botanical Society, Heddington Insurance Limited and active support from the Department of Education, the rate of progress has been impressive.

Through a carefully structured Development Plan, an awards scheme has been set up which will provide grants to school projects of sums ranging from $1,000 and $5,000 awarded each term on a yearly basis. Later this month, the first Advisory Committee Meeting will take place, embracing teachers, parents, representatives from from Agriculture and Fisheries, Works and Engineering, Parks and Planning, "because schools are affected by all those Departments'', explains Miss Hayward.

There have been regular, on-site visits, regular photographic updates, displays and participation in such events as the Agricultural Show and recently, the first newsletter -- appropriately entitled `SPROUT' -- was circulated.

Now that a good number of preschools and primary schools are now on board, attention will next be turned to middle and senior schools. "We have already been to talk to the Principal of CedarBridge Academy and I think I can say he is keen.'' In March, Mrs. Warner visited Britain, "Siobhan Style'' when Miss Hayward organised a detailed tour of "schools, schools and more schools'' in the London and Hampshire areas. "But I did manage to walk past the Tower of London and, yes, I did stand on the Greenwich Meridian!'' she laughs. "It really was a wonderful, inspiring experience to see so many examples of schools that have been successful in developing their grounds. I could see that the overriding elements for that success was not only planning and lots of patience, but most importantly, the total involvement of children, teachers and parents all working together. The general consensus of the schools I visited,'' she adds, "was that the project had helped the children to cope with the learning process, they had become more responsible, self-assured and definitely, much happier.'' Asked how she became involved with LtLB, Mrs. Warner who, as a former teacher, specialised in the teaching of reading, says that she has always been interested in the sciences and has been involved with the Zoological Society for the past 15 years, "so when Mary Winchell introduced the concept, it immediately appealed to me -- body, mind and spirit -- I really felt that this programme fitted in perfectly with my philosophy of the way in which to educate children -- the whole idea attracted me like a magnet!''