Developers have mistakenly razed an area of protected woodland near Stables Hill, causing extensive damage.

For environmentalists, the incident has reopened old wounds regarding development of the area.

"What concerns the Trust most is that this particular woodlands has a relatively high representation of native flora of Bermuda,'' said conservationist David Wingate, a Council member of the Bermuda National Trust.

"This was one area that contained a very high percentage of unique species, especially rarer Bermuda cedars.'' The incident happened sometime during the last 10 days, said Dr. Wingate.

Contacted by The Royal Gazette Peter Parker, CEO of Bermuda Properties Ltd, which is developing luxury resort, the Tuckers Point Club in the area, confirmed that a contractor had mistakenly bulldozed away flora on a hill near The Stables.

He estimated that the area cleared measured about a quarter of an acre.

Mr. Parker explained that Bermuda Properties has planning permission to clear an area and build a golf club house near The Stables.

The area intended to be cleared was surveyed and marked off properly by the contractor, and proper instructions given to the machine operator, he said.

"But for a reason that nobody knows he (the machine operator) turned right when he should have turned left and cleared an area he should not have cleared.'' Mr. Parker said that Bermuda Properties immediately contacted the Planning Department to explain what had happened. And, he added, BCM McAlpine which was subcontracted to do the work had accepted full responsibility.

"Since the day it happened we have been working closely with Mr. Madeiros,'' the Government Conservation Officer, he said. "And we have put together a plan to replant the area with natives and endemics. Hopefully, at the end of it, it will be better than it was.'' What makes the incident particularly painful for environmentalists is that they have waged a years-long battle against development of the area, only to have sections of it rezoned in the nineties, to allow development.

And Dr. Wingate is saying it might happen again. The conservationist is accusing Bermuda Properties Limited of attempting to blackmail the Government into allowing it to destroy one of the most valuable open spaces left on the Island.

Protected woodland destroyed Bermuda Properties wants to develop on Quarry Hill, as part of the second stage of their plans, and says Dr. Wingate, they have told Government that the $250-million project will not be viable without building on Quarry Hill.

Dr. Wingate argues that a similar argument was used -- that the former Castle Harbour hotel would not remain viable without developing on Ship's Hill -- which led to the rezoning of Ship's Hill.

Quarry Hill and Paynters Hill have not yet been rezoned -- meaning it would take another Cabinet level development order to allow BPL's plans to go ahead.

"If they do that (make the order) it will completely undercut all the meaning behind planning protection,'' said Dr. Wingate.

"Bermudians need to wake up to the fact that we are losing our heritage -- in this case on a massive scale -- if it's approved for a venture of questionable viability'' headed by foreign speculators.

He added that the situation was made even worse by the fact that the taxpayer is subsidising the project through the Hotel Concessions Act.

"It's a Government subsidy for the destruction of our natural heritage.'' The man who has spent his life trying to preserve and restore Nonsuch Island says that in terms of Bermuda's natural heritage the areas now targeted for development are far more valuable than Nonsuch.

"I don't see a stronger case for upholding protective zoning. If they let that go, they might as well let Nonsuch go.'' Dr. Wingate says in terms of size, there are three to four Nonsuchs in the Castle Harbour area.

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