to be freed for development.

Bermuda National Trust president Mr. David L. White made the claim yesterday as he pleaded the case for Catchment Hill.

The Trust says building luxury homes for non-Bermudians in the area will wreck one of Bermuda's last forests.

"It is vital not to destroy Catchment Hill,'' he stressed.

He said more open space had been destroyed in the last three decades than in the first 350 years of the Island's habitation.

His comments came as the Trust was given a $100,000 cheque for its Open Space Fund from the Bank of Bermuda's Centennial Trust.

Mr. White received it from Mr. Eldon Trimingham, chairman of the Centennial Trust Advisory Committee and Bank of Bermuda board.

Also at yesterday's Waterville ceremony were Bank of Bermuda's executive vice president of personnel Mr. Louis Mowbray, and Trust director Ms Amanda Outerbridge.

The donation marked the end of the Centennial Trust's $500,000 three-year commitment to the Open Space Fund. Contributions to the Trust have been matched dollar-for-dollar by the Centennial Trust.

Said Mr. Trimingham: "We must always remember, that while humankind inherited the earth, it was accorded in sacred trust.

"We thank the National Trust for its tireless efforts to save and preserve the natural resources which remain such an integral part of our Island's heritage.'' He added: "The Trust has worked diligently to protect the natural habitats of a variety of wildlife and flora indigenous to Bermuda.

"These precious woodland, nature and recreational reserves are valuable and non-replenishable natural resources which the National Trust has helped preserve for the enjoyment and education of generations to come.'' Mr. White thanked the Centennial Trust for its "extremely generous gifts and support''.

"A half-million dollars to preserve open space is a truly magnificent gift to the future of Bermuda.'' Mr. White said Bermuda was the most densely populated oceanic island in the world.

"I'm sure we have all, at some time, had the shock of seeing construction on a piece of undeveloped land that we somehow believed would never be built on.

"It affects us all. Perhaps we have had to adjust to the loss of a view, or to condominiums covering the place where we used to walk our dog.

"In the course of carrying out its work, the National Trust often finds itself opposing the development of pieces of virgin land.

"This policy is based, not only on the belief that these areas are immensely valuable, but also on the fact that there is no proven need at present for additional land to be released for development.

"Statistics show that there is in fact a surplus of housing in Bermuda, and that, in addition, there are more than 2,000 vacant buildings lots in existence.'' He added: "The only way that development can be prevented in these areas is if either the development rights are taken away or the land itself is bought.'' BUMPER BOOST -- Bermuda National Trust president Mr. David L. White (second from left) receives the $100,000 donation from Bank of Bermuda's Centennial Trust Advisory Committee chairman Mr. Eldon Trimingham (third from left). They are flanked by Trust director Ms Amanda Outerbridge and Bank of Bermuda executive vice president, personnel, Mr. Louis Mowbray.