BNT Announces 2025 Heritage Awards Winners
The Bermuda National Trust honoured contributions to Bermuda’s natural, cultural, and built heritage at the 2025 BNT Awards at Verdmont Museum.
A spokesperson said, “The Bermuda National Trust [BNT] Awards are an annual celebration of individuals and organisations that have worked to protect and promote Bermuda’s natural and cultural heritage. The 2025 awards were presented on 19 June at BNT’s Verdmont Museum by Minister of Public Works & Environment Jaché Adams and Trust President Mark Orchard.
“The Michael Darling Shield for Heritage Education went to Saltus Grammar School for the Saltus Grove, a nature-based classroom established on the Maycot property within walking distance of the Saltus Cavendish Campus. The Grove provides an immersive educational environment rooted in sustainability, play and inquiry, where students can connect with nature and learn about stewardship.
“The Bermudiana Award for Natural Heritage Impact was awarded to Stuart Smith, for many decades of commitment to Bermuda’s natural heritage. Stuart has been the driving force of the Bermuda Bluebird Society for 26 years, advising on and installing boxes and monitoring Bluebird box trails across the island. He also formerly ran Save Open Spaces, growing thousands of native and endemic plants.
“The Cedar Award for Cultural Heritage went to Dr Kim Dismont Robinson for her transformative 20-year career at the Department of Culture, where she served as Folklife Officer and later as Director. Through her visionary leadership, Kim Dismont-Robinson revolutionised Bermuda’s cultural landscape by championing underrepresented voices, fostering the literary arts, and preserving traditional knowledge through groundbreaking documentaries and publications.
“The DeForest Trimingham Awareness Award was presented to Lisa Greene and Dr David Wingate for their Practical Guide to Garden Management in Bermuda. This booklet, published last year with the support of the Bermuda Zoological Society and distributed free of charge, distills Dr Wingate’s decades of experience of native and endemic restoration into a concise publication to help guide those who wish to promote native biodiversity in their own gardens.
“Natural Heritage Certificates were presented to Ian and Jennifer Hind for planting natives and endemics at Bailey’s Bay; Rosalind Wingate for woodland restoration at Warwick Academy; Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club for sustainable practices leading to Green Key certification; and The Crystal Caves of Bermuda for responsible environmental stewardship of the Crystal and Fantasy Caves.
“A certificate for Heritage Awareness was presented to Dr David Chapman for inspiring appreciation of Bermuda’s natural and cultural heritage through his series of children’s books, including the Daddy and I Explore series and his most recent book Gombey – The Way of the Warrior, which is now featured in the StoryWalk in the Verdmont gardens.
“Cultural Heritage Award certificates were presented to Shanna Hollis for her powerful 2024 mural Unsettled Freedom on King’s Square, St George’s; Elaine Fox for her deeply personal book The Community of Southside, St David’s: Before, During and After WWII; Francine Trott, for 35 years of dedicated service with the Department of Parks, especially in her role as Curator of Forts; and the Anniversary Committee which organized the year-long celebration in 2024 of the 175th anniversary of Portuguese settlement in Bermuda.
“There were two awards for built heritage. The National Museum of Bermuda was honoured for phase one of the conservation of Casemates, a major project to restore the significant 1830s barracks for ultimate use as an education centre for Atlantic World studies. Dr Louise White and architect Geoff Parker were recognized for the sensitive renovation of ‘Tramor’, a 1904 home on Sound View Road, Sandys.
“In the Service to the Trust category, the Trust’s highest honour – the Palmetto Award – was presented to past-President Alana Anderson for over 20 years of dedicated service, first on the Fundraising and Finance Committees and from 2008 on the Council. Alana served as President from 2017 to 2024. Putting in thousands of hours of volunteer time, she helped to keep the Trust on track during some difficult periods without an executive director at the helm, and through the Covid years. She continues to serve on the Council.
“Jennifer Gray received the President’s Award for leadership of Buy Back Bermuda, particularly through the acquisition and restoration of the new High Point Nature Reserve in Southampton which opened on Earth Day 22 April this year.
“Four people were awarded Honorary Life Membership for their exceptional service to the Trust. Alfred Spearing and Eldon Trimingham were both recognised for over a decade of voluntary service for the annual Auction & Jumble Sale, raising thousands of dollars for the Trust. Al manages the Jumble Sale team and Eldon manages the hard-back book stall. Kirk and Judy Kitson were honoured for their decades of very generous financial support for the Trust.
“Volunteer Service certificates were awarded to Louise Roberts for dedicated volunteering at Verdmont Museum; Syrine Rajeh for co-chairing very successful fundraising dinners; Florence Laino for archaeology volunteering; and the Bermuda Archives team led by Karla Ingemann for their stewardship of the Trust’s archival holdings and assistance with research and curatorial projects.”
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