With around 120,000 visitors each year, the Aquarium is by far the most popular visitor attraction in Bermuda. Now, surrounding Flatts Village is joining together to become part of that success story.

The Flatts Village Group has been formed to preserve and vitalise this historic and beautiful area. Members of the scheme range from the Aquarium itself, to guest houses, restaurants and retailers in the general vicinity.

They have already produced a full-colour, complimentary guide to the Flatts area and the Zoological Society and Aquarium have prepared an information booklet for tour guides.

Besides the popularity of the Aquarium, Flatts' position as a crossroads linking Hamilton with St. George's has meant a steady increase in vehicular traffic. For some time now, residents and business people have been increasingly dismayed by its effects. Now an effort is being made to promote the idea of a roundabout by `Lazy Corner' to help reduce speed and ease traffic congestion.

Spokesman W.A. (Toppy) Cowen says plans are also in hand for some "exciting events'' in and around Flatts, including a Fun Festival, to take place later this year. "The excitement is starting to grow as we work together as a team and we expect that the Festival will become part of Tourism's annual Calendar of Events.'' Saundra Cowen, director of volunteers at the Aquarium, is working closely with her husband on the Flatts scheme. "It became obvious that visitors to the Aquarium wanted to eat and generally spend more time in the area. Richard (Winchell) put out a challenge to the Village last year, saying: `We have our Christmas lights -- let's see what you can do!' -- and that seemed to get things going.'' Mr. Winchell, senior curator, is enthusiastic about the partnership. "It's great to see interested volunteers getting together, not only to make the area safer, but to improve and increase the overall visitor experience.'' Emphasising that the intention of the Village Group is to heighten awareness of the beauty and rich history of Flatts, Mrs. Cowen says that Aquarium guide Bobbii Cartwright and author of the new booklet, is planning future walking tours. These will be arranged in cooperation with such organisations as the National Trust, the Biological Station and Elderhostel programme.

Suitable for both land and water tours, the booklet provides information on this ancient village whose history stretches back to the earliest days of settlement -- a small house at Flatts Inlet appears on the Somers Chart of 1610. By the late 1600s, nearby Gibbet's Island provided a dramatic setting for hangings.

The 1700s were Flatts' `golden era' when it emerged as a major port: because of its relatively isolated position, the village became notorious for smuggling activities. Modern shipping and a relentless encroachment of sand at the harbour mouth, however, doomed Flatts; by the early 1900s, the village's glory days were apparently over. But the building of the Aquarium in 1926 and then improved access by the building of the Bermuda Railway, gave the area a new lease of life, and today, Flatts Village has assumed a central role in tourism.

IDYLLIC VILLAGE -- A view of historic and picturesque Flatts Village.

WATER-WALL -- Artist Vivienne Gardner pictured by one of her murals in the children's `Local Tails exhibition room at the Bermuda Aquarium in Flatts.