The National Trust is hoping a "like-for-like'' deal can be struck in the wake of plans for the new Berkeley Insitute.

Berkeley plans to build a completely new senior school on a seven-acre site across the road from the existing buildings -- plans that would mean demolishing a historic site and chopping down existing woodland.

But the National Trust has said it will not object to the proposal and in turn has asked that Government consider providing alternative green space to compensate for the loss.

National Trust Director, Amanda Outerbridge, said the Trust was concerned about the loss of five acres of Woodland Reserve in densely populated Pembroke and Ridgeway, an example of 19th Century architecture.

But she added, the education of Bermuda's young people had to come first.

"We do hope that an equivalent green space will be earmarked for protection to the level of Woodland Reserve,'' she said.

"This would be a `green for green' initiative that would guarantee that -- in spite of such necessary developments as this school -- Bermuda does not lose any of its vital protected open space.'' It is anticipated that work will start on the school in the New Year and its opening is scheduled for the year 2002.