The Ministry of the Environment along with environmental groups are urging Bermudians to collect seeds to begin propagating and growing indigenous trees.

After Hurricane Fabian ravished most of the Island's greenery last month, the time is ripe to involve people in planting native and endemic plants.

"We need seed," proclaims a Ministry of the Environment flyer and they are asking the community to begin collecting seeds starting now.

Collecting the seeds will help the Government Plant Nursery to distribute native and endemic plants throughout the Island, as there is a shortage of plants at the nursery. This will also help in replanting after the loss of trees after the hurricane.

Seeds that the nursery are most in need of are Bermuda Cedar, its berries are dark purple when ripe; Bermuda Palmetto, its berries are round and black, and Olivewood Bark, its berries are oval yellowish-white berries.

In order to collect the berries the Ministry is asking that people either place drop cloths under the tree to catch the falling seeds or if branches are in reach the seeds can be gently shaken off.

Berries should be put in brown paper bags with name and number included so that seed collectors can be entered into a draw to win a tree.

The bags should be dropped off at the Government Plant Nursery at Tulo Valley in Spanish Point, Parks Office at Botanical Gardens, Bermuda National Trust at Waterville in Paget, Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, and the Visitors Service Bureau in Hamilton, Dockyard or St. George's.