Young people clearly led the way for Bermuda in the battle to preserve and promote the environment last year, according to the Bermuda National Trust.

At the Trust?s annual general meeting and awards ceremony held at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute on Thursday night, Trust president Wayne Jackson said he was ?particularly thrilled? that most of the evening?s awards were going to young people.

Premier Alex Scott handed out the 29 awards to individuals, groups and schools. Among the winners were students at Adventureland and Warwick nurseries for their gardening and composting efforts, Somerset Primary for their gardening club and Bluebird trail, Aquarium intern Alex Lines for his rediscovery of a snail which has not been found in Bermuda since 1989, and the Departments of Waste Management and the Department of Parks for their efforts at environmental conservation.

Other winners included philanthropist Dennis Sherwin, who created the walking trails at Warwick Pond; Jacob Hocking, who renovated the Pump House on Rosemont Avenue in Pembroke into a residence while preserving the unique architecture of the building, and Mount Saint Agnes student Mark Fox who discovered the remains of a 17th Century fort exposed by Hurricane Fabian.

The National Trust?s highest honour ? the Silver Palmetto ? went to the Aquarium?s Head Aquarist and president of the Bermuda Audubon Society Jennifer Gray.

Reeling out a long list of Ms Gray?s positions and environmental activities, Trust executive director Steve Conway noted that over the past 25 years she has made an ?outstanding? contribution to Bermuda?s environment.

?She has been involved in all aspects of animal husbandry: from feeding baby blue birds every hour round the clock for days on end, to that of seabirds or turtles.

?She has cared for a turtle split in two by a boat propeller ? now fibre-glassed together and living well under Jennifer?s care at the Aquarium.

?Much of this work is done as a volunteer, with hundreds of hours working for the betterment of the environment.?

In the Trust?s Annual Report, Hurricane Fabian was named as undoubtedly the greatest challenge facing Bermuda?s environment last year.

?On reflection, it was amazing that some of the Trust?s properties were spared by Fabian and we were relieved, as things could have been a lot worse,? Mr. Jackson stated.