Bermuda National Parks Act 1986: “The protected areas are to be managed in a manner that protects, maintains, and enhances the natural and historic values of the protected areas for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations”

The development of the maintenance yard at the Bermuda Botanical Gardens raises a number of puzzling questions. Originally proposed in 2009, then seemingly put on hold, it lurched back into life in July 2012, with an innocuous looking notice in the newspaper regarding redevelopment at 169 South Road.

Not much happened for a while. Then the true extent was revealed when mature trees and hedges were ripped out (as it turned out in contravention to Planning requirements) and the area excavated, leaving a gaping hole in the very centre of the Gardens.

A monstrous water tower was next erected, and left unsecured, its flimsiness highlighted by damage (still to be repaired) during the October 2014 storms and subsequent high winds. Large sections of the roof were ripped off and left for several months in the main Garden itself. The hurricanes that strike Bermuda seem to follow a fairly regular path through the Gardens, sweeping up from the south shore — the water tower is on that route.

I’ve been a tour guide at the Gardens for several years, and thoroughly enjoy showing visitors (mostly tourists, but some locals, too) Bermuda’s Botanical Gardens.

The Gardens offer not only an amazing variety of plants — some new, some extremely old and irreplaceable — but a glimpse of Bermuda’s natural, social and economic history. Visitors are shocked when they see the size and location of the proposed site and usually ask why this is being allowed in a Botanical Gardens.

Links to artists past and present abound. Visitors are entranced to stand under the very Banyan tree where Georgia O’Keefe resumed her art work with a sketch of the tree limbs or ask about the flower that gave John Lennon the inspired name of his final album.

The Kitchen Garden is an amazing work area, beautifully illustrating present day crops grown in Bermuda (the dedicated gardener here always willing to share his expertise and experience). The Economic Garden highlights the agricultural development of Bermuda, its importance to the fledgling North American states and England, along with the links to South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

The small cottage in the grounds shows the craftsmanship and ingenuity of those early Bermudians, contrasted to Camden, a historic 18th century house with a fine collection of cedar furniture and art work.

There are many other areas worthy of note— the style gardens, semi-tropical fruit collection, rose garden, butterfly garden, the cycads, and on and on, each with their own special appeal.

The creation of a large, busy, noisy, industrial site in the very heart of the Gardens cannot but have a detrimental effect on the peace and tranquility enjoyed by those who visit, whether it be groups of schoolchildren on educational visits, nursery school groups interacting with nature, gardeners checking out plants and ideas, joggers, strollers, dog walkers, tourists, those seeking respite from work during their lunch break. Research shows the health benefits of peaceful open space, and the ability to interact with the natural environment.

The site will have two, two-story buildings to house machinery, trucks, other vehicles and equipment. Maintenance work and washing of vehicles will also take place. Water trucks will ply back and forth, and there will be a paint shop and storage facility for a variety of items. The area, to be used as a daily muster station for 100 or so people, will also enable trucks to drive from Berry Hill Road to South Road.

Sadly the Gardens have been allowed, by those charged with its preservation and beautification, to deteriorate — the library dismembered, unique and irreplaceable documents deposited, untended, in the former gift shop, the herbarium gone — one asks to where? — a leaking, tired, broken Visitors’ Centre, a lack of toilet facilities, a mould infested and leaking Horticultural Hall, the JJ Outerbridge building, and slat houses damaged and in disrepair since October 2014.

Economic times are tough, but these buildings used to be rented out, they used to be highlights of a tour, they used to be educational facilities — and much of the deterioration began before the economic downturn.

It is particularly disturbing that the facility used by the Garden staff was also allowed to fall into disrepair and left for many years (again, pre-economic meltdown), the staff having to make do with substandard accommodations — a most unsatisfactory and needless situation.

Many questions arise regarding this development:

What other sites were looked at and why were they discarded?

Why was the Planning application listed as 169 South Road — an actual building presently the Parks HQ in a totally different section of the Garden, whereas the old, derelict work yard seemingly did not have numbered buildings?

What was the problem that caused Parks to leave the Government Quarry, where there is already a maintenance yard?

How much is this going to cost?

If there is such money available why hasn’t it been put towards repairing the buildings in the Botanical Gardens that can be rented out for income, in particular the Visitors’ Centre, an ideal site for weddings/showers/parties/meetings, etc.

Why have there been so many Planning infractions?

Who is responsible for overseeing the site and how were these infractions allowed and/or condoned by the Planning Department?

What research was done on traffic flow?

What environmental impact assessments were done?

Why is there no comment from the Curator in the Planning documents?

What documentation was provided to the Parks Commission?

It baffles and dismays me that those entrusted with the maintenance and enhancement of the Bermuda Botanical Gardens for the enjoyment of Bermudians, residents and visitors alike cannot see that a busy, noisy, industrial site in the very heart of this wonderland is simply wrong.

• Jennifer Flood is a member of Take Back Our Park