Campaigners fought to save it and the Premier described it as Bermuda's "unspoiled jewel".

The Southlands estate in Warwick stirs strong emotions — and later this month everyone on the Island will be able to see why.

Bermuda National Trust has been given permission to include the 37-acre private South Shore property — featuring rare exotic plants, hidden quarry gardens and coral sculptures — in its annual Palm Sunday walk on March 28.

The Trust's newly-appointed conservation officer David Outerbridge told The Royal Gazette: "It's going to give people a good view of what the property is. You will get a good look at the 14 quarry gardens."

Preservation director Dorcas Roberts added: "They are all interlinked with these beautiful garden paths and tunnels. The whole property is exotic. One of the biggest aims of the National Trust is to promote an appreciation and an enjoyment of places of historic or natural interest.

"The walk is a long-running community event — now in its 37th year — and is one of the Trust's greatest opportunities to do this. Ultimately, what we want to do is to allow the walkers to absorb the tranquility and exotic nature of the estate."

Participants will enjoy a 6.5-mile stroll along the South Shore, starting at Horseshoe Bay at 2 p.m. and taking in the Trust's recently opened five-acre Lighthouse Hill Nature Reserve, which was acquired last year.

The route includes many fortifications built over the last four centuries to defend the Island's south coast and Great Sound, including the WWII Turtle Hill Battery, at the top of the Fairmont Southampton resort.

The Southlands property dates back to at least the 18th century and many of its most unusual features were created by early 20th century owners James Morgan and Brigadier H. D. Maconochie — including a mausoleum for Glaswegian Mr. Morgan and his wife.

Bermudians Craig Christensen, Nelson Hunt and Brian Duperreault bought the estate from the Willowbank Foundation in 2005 and announced plans to develop a tourist resort, prompting a public outcry. Thousands signed a petition calling for the land to be saved.

In 2008, the owners agreed to swap the estate with Government for 80 acres at Morgan's Point so that Southlands could be preserved as a national park. But the exchange has never been completed and the two parties fell out publicly last month.

Conservationists fear the owners of Southlands will revert to their plan to build on the land if the deal falls through.

Mr. Outerbridge decided to ask for permission to include Southlands on the walk before the most recent controversy. "All the disputes happened after we had thought about the walk," he said.

Mrs. Roberts said the Trust was "heartened" at the 2008 agreement to transfer the hotel development to Morgan's Point, a former US Naval Air Station, though it had yet to see plans for the project. "We thoroughly support the sustainable practice of redeveloping and regenerating brownfield land as an alternative to developing undeveloped natural land."

She added that the Trust recognised that land swap agreements could take time but looked forward to getting confirmation that Southlands would be turned into a national park.

Mr. Christensen said: "The National Trust asked if we could make Southlands available as part of their Palm Sunday walk. We are pleased to help them celebrate this special occasion and they will be in for a treat to see some of the historic quarry gardens, tunnels and ponds as part of their walk."