While trying to beautify the Marsh Folly waste site, Works and Engineering crews inadvertently dumped horticultural compost in a nature reserve drawing the attention of the Department of Conservation.

Work crews were using the mixture of soil, compost and tree branches in the beginning stages of a pedestrian pathway so residents in the area could get closer to the scenic Pembroke Marsh Nature Reserve.

But the beautification project apparently got too close to the actual reserve, overstepping the legally protected space by about 30 feet.

It's a crime to construct or dump anything in a nature reserve, but since the act in this case appears entirely unintentional, no one expects Works and Engineering personnel to be penalised.

In fact crews have agreed to rectify the situation by removing the material that was laid down earlier this year.

A Ministry spokesperson said: "We regret that it occurred and will work in collaboration with Parks and Conservation to quickly restore the area."

A representative from the Department of Parks and the Department of Conservation met with works managers to discuss how to best rectify the situation. An agreement was reached in less than an hour.

The process of undoing what was done will be costly to taxpayers in labour, but conservationists don't believe any serious damage has been done to the Pembroke Marsh.

Meantime, the bad news may provide a silver lining for people who live near the Marsh Folly Dump.

There is a clear effort on the part of Works and Engineering to improve the aesthetics and usability of the area.

A Ministry spokesperson called it the next phase in a long-standing capital project, but also indicated that the ultimate goal is to turn the dump into a park.

He said: "The last phase will involve establishing a park on the old landfill itself. The phase will be contingent on establishing a new location for managing Bermuda's horticultural waste."

Cries to beautify the Marsh Folly site have been consistent for years, and the volume was amplified during the horticultural waste fire a few weeks ago. Neighbours said promises were broken about a new park on the old landfill.

The idea of the site becoming a park was first floated ten years ago by a United Bermuda Party Government, but critics argue there's been little movement to make the idea a reality.

On Friday, a Works spokesman pointed out: "The conceptual plan was developed in the late 1980s and includes improvements around the site, green space creation on the old landfill and around the marsh as well as habitat improvements of the marsh itself.

"To date, completed projects include Pembroke Playground, Parsons Road Basketball Court and levelling Glebe Field."