Over 150 Bank of Butterfield employees and KBB programme volunteers will take part in an Island-wide tree planting at Mangrove Bay, Burchall's Cove Alexandria Battery, Spanish Point Park, Watch Hill Park, Ferry Point, Palmetto Park, and Church Bay.

This is all part of the "Plant a Tree in '93 programme. The programme, which is designed to improve Bermuda's environment is run jointly by the KBB, the Bermuda National Trust and the Garden Club of Bermuda.

NEW DIRECOTR OF PLANNING APP Senior forward planner in Government Mr. Brian Rowlinson has been appointed to the $92,137-a-year post of Director of Planning.

Mr. Rowlinson will replace Mr. Erwin Adderley who is retiring next March having served as director since 1972, Government Personnel officer Mr. Malcolm Gregory confirmed this week.

Currently Assistant Director of Forward Planning, Mr. Rowlinson has worked for the Planning Department for more than 15 years.

He played a major role in devising the 1992 Bermuda Development Plan, which seeks to preserve as much open space as possible.

Mr. Rowlinson, a status Bermudian, was educated in the United Kingdom. The Public Services Commission recommended the appointment to Governor Lord Waddington, who approved it.

"It's an exciting opportunity and I'm very grateful for it,'' said Mr.

Rowlinson, who takes up the position on March 12, 1994.

INCREASE IN VISITORS TOU The number of visitors coming here between January 1 and November 14 has reached 535,730.

That is an 11.8 percent increase on last year's total of 478,973 for the same period.

Some 381,242 came by air, 153,841 by ship, and 647 through a combination.

Last week, November 8-14, saw a 4.3 percent rise over 1992, with 7,100 visitor arrivals.

OUTPATIENT PHARMACY MOVED HOS The outpatient pharmacy has been relocated in order to provide better service to patients, an official from the King Edward VII Hospital said.

Mr. Hume Martin, who is the executive director of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, said the move will be more convenient for many patients especially since the majority of patients using the facility are older persons.

The outpatient pharmacy will now be on the ground floor of the hospital close to the Emergency Department and the eastern exit.

Hospital officials say the move enables patients to drop off prescriptions on their way to treatment centres and pick up their medication later.

OCCUPANCY UP IN HOTELS TOU Hotel chiefs have been buoyed by a 10 percent bookings surge last month.

Occupancy levels rose to 72.7 percent -- compared to 62.7 percent and 66 percent for 1992 and 1991 respectively.

Mr. David Dodwell, president of the Bermuda Hotel Association, described the increase as a "positive sign''.

But this month is expected to see a slight decrease on last year.

The projected November level is 52.3 percent, compared to 53.4 percent.

Predictions for December and January are 14.5 percent and 14.1 percent respectively -- both slightly ahead of 1992.

Said Mr. Dodwell: "As we enter the traditional slow season, it should be recognised that occupancies will drop off as a matter of course.'' He added the "major investment'' by the hotel association and Department of Tourism in the winter programme would be critical to future success.