More than 1,000 people streamed through the gates of Southlands yesterday for an event organised by environmentalists campaigning to save the estate from development.

The Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) estimated that at least 1,500 people seized the opportunity to see the private 37-acre site in Warwick for themselves during the one-day "open house".

And those opposed to the building of a hotel on the pristine greenfield site — which features rare exotic plants, hidden quarry gardens and coral sculptures — are urged to attend another event on Friday outside the Cabinet Office.

The Forum for Change — which will address various issues affecting the Island, including the environment, education, seniors and economics — is at 12.30 p.m.

BEST hailed yesterday's event a "tremendous success" and said hundreds of visitors signed a petition urging Government to complete a land swap with the owners of Southlands so the estate can be turned into a national park.

Southlands Ltd.'s original plan to build a luxury tourist resort on the South Road property met with a public outcry in 2007.

BEST launched a campaign to prevent the development and, in 2008, Southlands Ltd. agreed to exchange the estate with Government for 80 acres of public land at Morgan's Point, Southampton.

The deal has yet to be completed and the two sides have been publicly bickering in recent weeks. The three Southlands directors — Brian Duperreault, Craig Christensen and Nelson Hunt — said on March 11 that they would have "no alternative" but to revert to their original plan if it fell through.

The BEST campaign to save Southlands was relaunched last week and Caitlin O'Doherty, from the charity's management team, said yesterday that the petition now had about 1,000 signatures.

"On the website, we have had 700 signatures and we ran out of paper today," she said.

BEST chairman Stuart Hayward said: "The objective today was to have people actually see and appreciate what we could lose and that objective was met, absolutely.

"The nice thing was the broad spectrum of people. There were kids in strollers, there were senior citizens walking with canes. One lady came with two broken legs.

"The racial mix was exquisite to see. Everybody in this community appreciates the need for open space and the diversity of people who came just really illustrates that."

The event officially started at 2 p.m. but visitors began arriving at the estate first thing in the morning, according to BEST member Donna Tiffin.

She said: "People are just so curious to see the place. We have had a fantastic turnout, better even than we could have hoped for. People were just very appreciative to see the property."

One Warwick resident, who gave her name as Kathy, told The Royal Gazette: "My reason for coming out is just because I have heard so much about it. I said 'I'll come out today and see for myself'. It's really something to see."

Another woman said: "I have never been beyond these pillars. Already, I think it's worthwhile to preserve it. There is no need to take it and pull it apart to put something in there. They ought to make it a park for the public."

Mr. Hayward, wearing a Kermit the Frog T-shirt in reference to Sen. Marc Bean's recent description of BEST as a "muppet show," said Friday's forum would be a chance for dialogue and would involve various organisations.

Those who missed yesterday's event can visit Southlands as part of Bermuda National Trust's annual Palm Sunday walk. The 6.5 mile walk starts at 2 p.m. at Horseshoe Bay on Sunday.