A festival celebrating the Botanical Gardens will take place on Sunday, November 19.

Valerie Wallace, a member of the lobby group, Save the Gardens, said the celebration would still take place even though the new hospital will not be built on the grounds of the Gardens.

Ms Wallace said the festival would give members of the public an opportunity to show Government how important the Gardens are to the people of Bermuda.

She told The Royal Gazette: "It will be wonderful celebration. A number of organisations will be on hand showcasing how important the Botanical Gardens are to all of us.

"Public participation would reinforce the message that these Gardens are important to the people of Bermuda and that we care enough to come out on this day to support their future."

The Bermuda SPCA is one of the organisations participating in the festival.

SPCA President, Heather Kromer, said: "The SPCA will hold two dog walks and a scavenger hunt. We hold several events at the Botanical Gardens every year and we know that many dog owners enjoy walking their dogs in this safe, central and quiet environment.

"The Gardens are a wonderful animal friendly location and we don't want to lose them, ever, to development."