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Posted by Botanical Guardian at 06:57 PM | Permalink

You can put your pens down folks! The Government has announced that it will NOT be building the new hospital on the Botanical Gardens.

Below is a (new) draft letter to Premier Ewart Brown that you may copy and paste. It is best if you modify it with your own thoughts but if you don't have the time you can simply add your details at the bottom and send it off.

Dear Premier,

I support the need for a new Acute Care Hospital in Bermuda. However, I object to any development whatsoever in the Botanical Gardens. They are a Bermudian national icon in addition to being a beautiful, protected national park, a major tourist attraction and a superb educational and scientific resource. All parks are incredibly valuable to society but the Botanical Gardens are extra special and are widely used by the entire community. We cannot afford to lose them!

I am aware that there will be difficulties rebuilding on the existing hospital site but these issues will be short term whereas the effects of destroying the heart of the Botanical Gardens will be permanent.

Please preserve the Botanical Gardens intact for future generations.

Yours Sincerely
Name
Parish/ Town
Country

Click on the link below to find contact information for all the relevant people (including the new Ministers) that your letter should be addressed and copied to.

Continue reading "Take Action! - Write a Letter" »

Posted by Botanical Guardian at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Bermuda College students express their support for the gardens from Inside one of the massive banyan trees

I found a class of students from the Bermuda College today in the Botanical Gardens. They were on a field trip and they asked me to tag along. I learned so many things about the gardens that I did not know before. It was as if I was a child all over again, learning things about nature for the very first time.

DID YOU KNOW: All hibiscus flowers only open for one day and at the end of that day they close and die. Each hibiscus flower you see is a completely different flower from the ones the day before!

I didn't know that and it took me a while to get my head around it. I had always thought that these flowers simply open and closed each day.

I saw a plant that attracts flies (for the purpose of pollination) by smelling like rotting flesh. I also discovered a tree that had exploding fruit together with a sausage tree that didn't grow sausages but may in fact be a cure for cancer. I found gorgeous purple passion flowers, cotton plants with soft fluffy seeds and some bizarre looking cacti - to name only a few!

Continue reading "Well I never knew that!" »

Posted by Botanical Guardian at 11:59 PM | Permalink

• An island where open space and natural habitats are preserved for current and future generations to enjoy by building in different ways and concentrating on building in a few key areas; redeveloping previously developed sites rather than encroaching on green space

Continue reading "Is the Government serious about Sustainable Development?" »

Posted by Botanical Guardian at 05:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Is your signature on the petition? If you signed the sheets of paper outside the BHB meetings at the end of September - you did NOT sign the official petition

The petition to Save The Gardens (online and on paper) now bears over 3,000 signatures but we'd like more! If you haven't signed it yet - click here or visit any of the following places to sign it on paper:

The Phoenix Woodbourne
The Phoenix Drugstore
The Lemon Tree Café
Brighton Nurseries
Aberfeldy Nurseries
Noah’s Ark
Animal & Garden House
Spicelands, Inwood, Hinson Hall Riding Centres
Kit’n’Kaboodle
St John’s Church
St Augustus’ Church
St Monica’s Church
Sousa’s Landscaping
Conrad’s
Marine Locker
Bermuda Bookstore
Rock Island Coffee Shop
PJ's Warehouse

Posted by Botanical Guardian at 02:40 PM | Permalink

This morning Johnny Barnes was wearing green trousers in addition to a Bermudaful shirt with flowers and bright green leaves. He even had a luminous green vest under his shirt!

Thanks to everyone who made the effort to wear green today (or something close to green!). We had fun on the roundabout this morning with Johnny Barnes! I told lots of people in green that I love them and if I didn't get the chance to tell you, and you are wearing green - then let me tell you something - I really love you! Yes I do!

Click on the link below to see more pictures from today.

Continue reading "Happy Green Day everyone!" »

Posted by Botanical Guardian at 11:09 AM | Permalink

Double Fantasy - the flower that inspired John Lennon

As I was leaving the Botanical Gardens today after we had a press conference there I switched on my ipod, which was set to play random tracks. "Give Peace A Chance" by John Lennon came on and it reminded me that I have something to tell you!

Back in 1980 John Lennon spent a long stay in Bermuda and he was walking in the Botanical Gardens one day when he found the flower "Double Fantasy". This flower suddenly inspired him to write all of the music for this final album, which he also named after the flower! He thought the name was a perfect description of his marriage to Yoko.

Continue reading "Inspirational Gardens" »

Posted by Botanical Guardian at 05:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Click on the image for a larger version

You can print the JPEG or download and print the PDF file and pin it up in your office.

Friday is also Breast Cancer Awareness "Denim Day". We certianly don't want to take any focus away from this other important issue and ask that those participating in "Denim Day" try to wear something green along with their denim.

Posted by Botanical Guardian at 03:05 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (2)

Friday declared 'Green Day' to protest new hospital site
A message has gone out to everyone who wants to save the Botanical Gardens from being used as a site for a new hospital to wear an item of green clothing this Friday.

1,300 reasons to save the gardens - and counting
The campaign to save the Botanical Gardens is making good use of today's technology. With a handful of volunteers and a shoestring budget, the Save the Gardens campaigners have launched a website and an online discussion forum or Blog. ...

Online Gardens petition draws 1,400 signatures
MORE than 1,400 people have signed an online petition launched this week to oppose plans to build a new hospital on the Botanical Gardens.

'Cadillac hospital plan too costly'
Government has opted for an expensive "Cadillac hospital" in the Botanical Gardens which the Island may not even need, Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert claimed last night.

Who says we need a new hospital?
A reader writes...

Click on the link below to read more letters to the editor.

Continue reading "News and views" »

Posted by Botanical Guardian at 02:19 PM | Permalink

Caitlin got over 100 people to join the Virtual March

Dear all,

I know a 13 year old might not make a difference, but what’s the harm in trying? When I first heard about a third of the Botanical Gardens being demolished, I thought that nothing could be done, and it would just be another large step to making Bermuda more of a concrete jungle. But then I was inspired. I heard about this ‘Virtual March’ and knew that I might actually be able to make a difference. I went to school the next day, digital camera and ‘Save The Gardens’ sign in hand, and took pictures. I was amazed at how all of the BHS students wanted to take a part, and in 40 minutes I had 46 pictures of over 100 people.

I really hope that they will not build the hospital in our magnificent gardens, and will continue to do all I can to prevent it. It is such a tragedy that our adults are prepared to take away one of few green spaces we have left, and that us, the children, will have to live with it the rest of our lives.

Thank you to all my fellow students who let me take their picture, and to Ms. Nash without whom I would not have pursued this.

Caitlin O’Doherty

Posted by Botanical Guardian at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)