Students in Saltus Grammar School have always taken part in numerous conservation activities. One of the major school conservation programmes is the Saltus Island Project.

It is a partnership between the Bermuda National Trust and the Saltus Geography Department.

Saltus Island is an uninhabited island located in Soncy Bay, Hamilton Harbour. It is 3.2 acres in size.

The Saltus Island Project provides Saltus students with a great educational and conservational opportunity to investigate different plant species in Bermuda, and improve the environment on the island.

The island is named after Samuel Saltus, who was the founder of Saltus Grammar School. The Saltus Island Project was first launched in March 2002.

It has been a successful in conservation and environmental protection by planting endemic plant species and eliminating exotic plant species for the Saltus Island.

Every year, all Year 9 students take tours to the island with supervision from teachers and help to make the island a better environment.

Students first study different plant species including endemic species and exotic species on the Saltus Island; then students start to clear up unwanted plants such as casuarinas and oleanders.

Finally, students plant the trees like cedars that they themselves have purchased. All students who have been to the Saltus Island enjoy the time there, and are all keen to return to the island.

The main achievement of students and staff on the Saltus Island to date includes the clearing of large amounts of Casuarinas that dominated the area at the south end of the island.

By 2006, all casuarinas were successfully removed and replanting started. By 2007, all unwanted plants in the central area of the island were completely cleared.

Also, for the convenience of students and staff, the first paths were made in 2003, and by 2005 the East side paths were completed.

My form, Year 9 Butterfield, first visited Saltus Island in October 2008, and spent a wonderful afternoon learning about the different species before clearing and planting started.

Students seemed to enjoy themselves on the Saltus Island as one of the students in my form said, "I had a great time, besides the spiders and rats.

"I learned how to work a saw and a root puller for the first time. I had fun hanging out with friends and helping the community. It's such a good experience and I would love to do it again."

Another student, Kenedi Edwards, said: "I had a lot of fun on Saltus Island.

"At first I thought that pulling trees and working where bugs rest wouldn't be fun at all, but I was wrong.

"Getting to clear trails, ride on a boat, and plant new trees were all good ideas of getting to bond with my other classmates. I would definitely visit again this year."