There's nothing like swinging a mattock or tugging out weeds to relieve stress. Staff from Butterfield Bank's asset management department found that out when they took a break from the financial markets for their annual volunteer day.

The 25-strong team spent a Sunday working on two nature reserves at Somerset Long Bay owned by Bermuda Audubon Society and Buy Back Bermuda, a joint venture between the Audubon Society and Bermuda National Trust.

Armed with mattocks, weed wrenches and rakes, employees and their families dug out invasive species which threaten to overrun the reserves.

They also cleared weeds and vines from around young cedars and other native plants to give them room to grow.

Karen Border, secretary of the Bermuda Audubon Society, said: "We're very grateful to Butterfield Asset Management for their help.

"The group achieved a tremendous amount of work in just a few hours, saving us thousands of dollars on hiring contractors.

"The adults got stuck in hacking out cow cane and the children were kept busy weeding.

"Several commented that it made a pleasant change from picking up other people's dumped trash, which they have done in previous years."