A charity dedicated to preserving Bermuda's open spaces for future generations has exceeded the fundraising target for its second campaign — and is now on course to launch a third.

Buy Back Bermuda (BBB) appealed to the public for $2.5 million in October 2007 in order to buy two parcels of land on opposite sides of the Island and save them from development.

The response was overwhelming, according to former Premier David Saul, who spearheaded the campaign for BBB, a joint initiative by Bermuda National Trust (BNT) and Bermuda Audubon Society.

He told The Royal Gazette that almost 15 acres of land — at Evans Bay Pond, Skroggins Hill, Southampton and Eve's Pond, Hamilton Parish — would now be turned into nature reserves for all to enjoy.

"There are over 700 people that have donated and they will have their names etched onto a plaque at both sites," said Dr. Saul, adding that work on the reserves would hopefully be completed next year.

He explained that the original fundraising goal was reduced when the untouched woodland at Skroggins Hill, amounting to nearly 12 acres and with a likely price tag of about $500,000, was donated to the Island by owner Sharon Vesey.

A new target of $2 million was set but donations have exceeded that, with a $300,000 pledge from reinsurance firm PartnerRe ensuring that BBB can start scouring the Island for its third project.

BNT executive director Jennifer Gray said the success of the campaign demonstrated the community belief that dwindling open spaces are precious and must be protected.

"My only disappointment is that despite our great success, our fundraising efforts cannot keep up with the incredible rate of development and loss of open spaces," she added.

She said there was now "much work on the ground to be done" to turn the two areas into pristine habitats for plants and animals being forced out by the "dramatic fragmentation of open space in Bermuda".

Audubon Society president Andrew Dobson said it was heartening to have received so many corporate and individual donations, as well as $300,000 from Government, which gave the same amount to the first campaign.

"It's brought everybody together. I think everybody appreciates the need to preserve some of Bermuda's remaining open spaces." Mr. Dobson said the reserves would provide important habitats for local and migrant birds.

Environment Minister Glenn Blakeney praised the campaign and thanked the Vesey family for their donation of land. "These public/private partnerships are crucial to Government's sustainable development initiative and to ensure we preserve green spaces for future generations," he said.

Jaime Masters, corporate communications associate at PartnerRe, said the company was proud to support BBB. "This is a significant donation and it's an endorsement of what the National Trust and Audubon Society have accomplished so far."

BBB's first campaign was to buy a site around Pitman's Pond, which opened to the public as Somerset Long Bay East Nature Reserve in spring 2007.

n Donations can be made to BBB by sending cheques to Bermuda National Trust, PO Box 61, Hamilton, HM AX.