the National Trust.

Mr. Benjamin Rego's donation of the final part of the Devonshire Marsh West Basin unifies the area under National Trust control.

And Bermuda's Chief Conservation Officer Dr. David Wingate described the presentation of the lease by Mr. Rego to the National Trust yesterday as a "Red Letter Day.'' Dr. Wingate said: "Normally real estate men are fighting for real estate land but this is the guru of all real estate men working in partnership with the National Trust for the sake of open space in Bermuda.'' Along with his son Buddy and daughter Patti, Mr. Rego handed over the documents to Lt. Col. Michael Darling, chairman of the National Trust Campaign for Gifts.

Mr. Rego said: "This was land which I acquired some months past. We simply bought it because it was available for purchase, as an investment. We were looking into what could be developed there, without affecting the aesthetics of the area.

"On realising that the Trust owned all the land around this area I decided to offer it to them, which has had the effect of rounding their boundary off. It was an irresistible opportunity for me.'' Mr. Rego said he wanted to complete the picture for Devonshire Marsh West by offering the land to the National Trust, an organisation for which he has a high regard.

In fact Mr. Rego has been working with the National Trust in trying to persuade other land owners to hand over their properties.

Lt. Col. Darling said: "Mr. Rego has been supportive of us. But he has not only worked to get others involved, he he has put his own money where his mouth is.

"It is one of the most magnificent gifts the Trust has received for some time and a very important gift.'' Dr. Wingate explained the importance of the land which means the whole basin can now be maintained for nature.

He said: "We now have a position of a unified management of this marsh basin for for a nature reserve, wetlands, protected plants and migrating birds.

"It is also important for agriculture. It is one of the few areas where cattle can graze without damaging the land.'' LAND HANDOVER -- Lt. Col. Michael Darling, chairman of the National Trust's Campaign for Gifts, and chairman of the Trust's Fund Raising Committee Mr.

David Hamshere collect the deeds for the final part of Devonshire Marsh West from Mr. Benjamin Rego.