Bermuda has lots and lots of open spaces, and we need to take care of all of them! But some of these areas are not being taken care of.We need to protect open spaces. Everyone needs somewhere to play and get exercise like bike riding, running, walking the dog, and having a picnic, so that you ‘get off the couch then get out of the house!’ Plus we need places for us, our children and their children in the future. How sad would it be for our grandchildren not to be able to enjoy places like Ferry Reach, Spittal Pond and Botanical Gardens?In Bermuda, some people need to see animals. If we don’t have open spaces, they won’t be able to see them. Our native and endemic animals will die, then it wouldn’t be Bermuda. So we need to protect our animals, like long tails, red birds, blue birds, herons, egrets, skinks, lizards. Even roaches and centipedes need somewhere to live!Trees are part of Bermuda. Bermuda is known throughout the world for its beauty. A lot of the trees are getting cut down, and it is not good for us. It’s not just here; it’s all around the world. If the oxygen-giving trees die, people will suffer and die. That does not sound very good. Save them, please!Trash is all over Bermuda and much of it is in our open spaces. Trash is awful. According to a recent survey by our class, trash is the biggest problem in open spaces. That is why we need more trash cans around all open spaces. It needs to be trash collection day every day.Help to preserve our open spaces, Bermuda, so that your grandchildren can see them.Planting native trees in open spacesBy Declan Mckittrick –and Roberto AusendaWhen Bermuda was first discovered, it was covered in a beautiful forest of Bermuda cedar and carpets of other endemic plants. Then the early settlers came and used many cedars for boats and houses. As a result of this and the cedar blight in the early 1900’s, today Bermuda is mostly covered with introduced plants. They are taking over the endemic plants’ habitat. We are pushing the cedars and other endemic plants to extinction.Wherever you look in Bermuda, you will see trees. Unfortunately, all of the introduced trees are taking over Bermuda. We want to make more of those trees cedars, palmettos and other specialized Bermuda plants, but see less casuarinas. When trees fall down we can work together to replant Bermuda’s beautiful cedar forests.If we plant more cedars and get rid of the casuarinas, we can begin to remember Bermuda’s natural beauty.Ways to save open spacesBy Charlotte Neal –and Kesi PaynterBermuda’s open spaces are in danger. Vandals, vagrants and careless litterers are causing a problem in our parks, playgrounds and other recreational areas. Here’s what we can do to keep our open spaces clean and safe.Improve security. Employ more park rangers to patrol parks day and night.Stop vandalism. By giving bored teenagers more things to do, we can help them find positive ways to occupy their free time.Keep open spaces open. Trees and other living creatures are important and children need somewhere to play.Stop leaving trash in open spaces. Clean up your mess after you eat.Find homes for vagrants. Vagrants have nowhere to live and are occupying buildings in our open spaces. This can mean that people are afraid to visit.