A ten-acre nature reserve was unveiled to the public this afternoon.

High Point Nature Reserve on Alton Hill, Southampton, drew a crowd of about 50 people who strolled through fresh trails to welcome the new open space.

Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, christened the compound with an official “vine-cutting” ceremony and planted a tree on the grounds.

He said: “It is genuinely a very magical place.

“There is still a need for more to support the work — financially or through labour or expertise, or just being a voice in the community — to ensure that our generation and future generations continue to benefit from all that Bermuda’s nature has to offer.”

High Point Nature Reserve was financed by Buy Back Bermuda, a joint effort between the Bermuda Audubon Society and the Bermuda National Trust to preserve the island’s natural spaces.

The $2.3 million property was bought with the help of a $2 million anonymous donation and $300,000 donated from PartnerRe in 2008.

Mr Murdoch said it was fitting to host the opening on Earth Day.

He added: “I can see, from the history of your Buy Back Bermuda scheme, using this day to illustrate that is a classic example of exactly what this day is meant to signify.”

Buy Back Bermuda purchased the Somerset Long Bay Nature Reserve in 2007 and the Vesey Nature Reserve in Hamilton Parish in 2013.

The most recent purchase was Eve’s Pond Nature Reserve, also in Hamilton Parish, in 2022.

Jennifer Gray, the chairwoman of Buy Back Bermuda, said that the group still needed to complete the walking trail along the coastline and install more signage.

She said that it also wanted to replace more invasive casuarina trees with a low-maintenance fruit orchard and plant nurseries, as well as adding bird houses.

Ms Gray said these renovations would require more donations and encouraged others to contribute what they could.

She added: “We are delighted to have created another beautiful natural space for the benefit of the Bermuda community and our visitors.

“A great deal of work has gone into making it a wonderful place for a family day out.

“We urge everyone to come and enjoy this new nature reserve.

“Together, we can make High Point a shining example of what’s possible when community and conservation come together.”

Ms Gray gave a word of congratulations on behalf of Jaché Adams, the Minister of Public Works and Environment, who was unable to attend.

Mr Adams wrote in his speech that it brought him “great satisfaction” to see the success of Buy Back Bermuda’s efforts.

He added: “In a small, densely populated island like Bermuda, protecting open spaces is not just a conservation priority — it is necessary for our environmental resilience, community wellbeing and national identity.

“The opening of High Point Nature Reserve on Earth Day is a testament to what can be achieved when vision and stewardship come together to serve the public good.

“I applaud the Bermuda Audubon Society and the Bermuda National Trust for their dedication to safeguard our natural heritage for generations to come.”

David Wingate, a renowned Bermudian ornithologist who came to the opening, said he was happy to see so much effort being put into restoring the environment.

He added that he had not seen so many longtails in one space since he was a child.

Dr Wingate attributed this increased visibility to better control of predators such as loose dogs, and other conservation efforts.

He added: “The crowd that’s been here today makes me realise that people care more than they did when I was a youngster.

“This is what we needed to do to keep the environment healthy.”