POSITION - Antigua's latitude is 17º 6' north and 61º 45' west and Barbuda is about 28 miles to the north of Antigua at 17º 38' north and 61º 50' west.

AREA - Antigua is 108 sq. miles ( 280 sq. km.) and Barbuda is 62 sq. miles (160 sq. km.) in area.

SIZE - The approximate dimensions of the islands are Antigua: 15 by 12 miles and Barbuda: 14 by 8 miles.

HIGHEST POINTS - Antigua has Boggy Peak, 1,319 ft (402m) and in Barbuda, and the highest point of the the Highlands is 125 ft. (38 m.).

GEOLOGY - Antigua is composed of volcanic and limestone materials of the Oligocene period.

Geologically, Falmouth Peak is the largest intrusive mass in Antigua. Igneous rocks, while liquid, jammed into fractures of weak rock and cooled slowly to form dacite porphyry. The mountain, just over 1,042 ft high, occupies a square mile in area and is just one mile west of Falmouth,

The peak, together with a small area to its west, is covered with mixed evergreen-deciduous forest. It is a small stand of close-canopied forest dominated by silk cotton, red cedar, fig, loblolly, locust and Spanish oak. No alien species occur among the dominants. The physiognomy of this forest fragment is highly suggestive of rain forest, with abundant lianes and epiphytes, large buttresses on the silk cotton and locust trees, and many ferns on the forest floor. The absence of aliens and the inaccessible location of this stand suggests it may be one of the few relics of an evergreen, hydrophytic forest that formerly covered the higher slopes and summits of Antigua.

The local name for this peak is the ‘Sugar Loaf”. Brown crystallized sugar was once poured into long pointed ceramic vessels called sugar pots, so the brown molasses in the crystals would drain off. When the sugar was taken out days later it had formed into a pointed ‘sugar loaf’, hence the name of this peak.

No trail exists up the mountain. A nature trail from Falmouth would pass through several vegetation types of the park and would probably be very popular with hikers. (See photos near top)

This important environmental area includes six small offshore islands in North Sound on the north-east side of Antigua. Great Bird Island is a tiny islet lying almost three kilometres north-east of Antigua. Measuring just 20 acres, it is the only place on Earth where you can see an Antiguan Racer in the wild. The entire world population of this snake lives on the island.

Great Bird Island was named by sailors who were amazed at the number of birds that they found living and nesting there, it is a miniature paradise. As well as being the last refuge of the Antiguan racer, it is also home to a variety of other endangered creatures including a rare lizard, brown pelicans, West Indian whistling ducks and red-billed tropicbirds. Luckily for the snake, there are no mongooses on the island, but, until recently, hundreds of black rats lived there. The rats were eliminated by the Antigua Racer Conservation Project.

A long, narrow coral ridge with 30 metre-high cliffs runs along the east side of the island. The ridge drops down to a flat sandy area, covered with grass and a few scattered plants and trees. The white sand beaches at either end of the sandbar are the main attraction for visitors. Further west, where the land rises again, the island is covered with forest that is almost too thick to walk through.

Over 20,000 tourists visit Great Bird Island every year. Unfortunately, not everyone treats this wonderful island with the respect it deserves. Some visitors drop litter, start fires, disturb nesting birds and even kill the harmless Antiguan racer, so there is a great need of legislation.

THE FIVE SURROUNDING ISLANDS are Red Head Is, Rabbit Is, Lobster Is, Exchange Is and Hell’s Gate.

600 AD Arawakan speaking Indians relied on the area for their subsistence. A few of their artifacts have been found on Great Bird Island.

1735 Bird Is. was an isolation area for Joint Evil & Black Leprosy for enslaved Africans.

1995 There were about 50 of the rare Racer Snake (Alsophis antiguae) on Bird Is.

Guiana Island, is the largest of the North Shore Islands of Antigua. It is still undeveloped and is home to many species of wildlife. Other smaller islands are scattered in the calm clear waters of the area, with picturesque names such as Maiden Island, Great Bird Island, Galley, Redhead, Rabbit, Lobster, Exchange, London Bridge and Hell's Gate Islands.

Guiana Island is only about three hundred feet from the main island of Antigua, so it is possible to attach cables which enable a barge to be pulled back and forth for access. It is a low island, with its highest point approximately fifty feet. It is almost two and a half miles long and about half a mile across. It was named by English settlers from Guiana (now known as Guyana) in about 1667. They emigrated to it when their country was surrendered to the Dutch by the Treaty of Breda in 1667.

Three groups of people have inhabited Guiana Island in the past. The first were Archaic, the second were of Arawakan speaking Amerindians and the third were Europeans and Africans of the historic age. The island was owned by Charles Tudway of Parham Hill estate in the mid 18th century and was leased to Edward Evanson, who owned two houses on Guiana Island. Hon. Edward Byam, Council Member, occupied one of the houses in 1749. Evanson died in 1760 in debt of £11,000, due to an extended drought. A new lease was made to his heir. In 1812, Sir William Codrington III bought Guiana Island for £4,272 and it remained within the Codrington family until 1929. Up to recently, the old Great House was in fairly good structural condition, but now it is uninhabited.

In 1991, the Guiana Island Society was planned, with the aim to create a wildlife sanctuary on the island. It was proposed that the Great House be restored to provide facilities for a reception area, a lodge, an office and an interpretation centre. Unfortunately this plan was put aside when the island was sold to be a huge hotel complex, but fortunately this never materialised.

Fallow Deer (Dama dama dama) Antigua and Barbuda’s National Animal, were introduced into Guiana Island, as well as Barbuda, in the second quarter of the 18th century by the Codringtons. In 1740, deer meat was sold in Antigua for 2/6d per lb. In 1980 there were about 40 free roaming deer on Guiana Island.

The once large flock (60 to 100 in 1980) of wild Tree Ducks (Dendrocygna arborea) is considered to be endangered in parts of its range. "Such a congregation of free-ranging Tree Ducks almost surely cannot be found anywhere else in the world" (all are quotes from a Smithsonian letter dated 29 Sept, 1980). Also on Guiana Island in 1980 was a thriving population of the Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus), which is rare elsewhere.

"Guiana Island is of outstanding interest and is worthy of preservation". Taffy and Bonny Bufton were at that time the only human inhabitants on the island, and had “created a sanctuary on Guiana that is unique in the Antilles" (Smithsonian quotes). They tamed and fed the deer that roamed the island, as well as the rare West Indian Tree Duck. “Continued wise management of the island, combined with some programme of limited access to the island, could probably render Guiana Island into one of the major natural attractions of Antigua'', so important in this age of eco-tourism.

Now we may well ask if there is any way that we can heed the expert assessment of the Smithsonian Institute given in 1980. It is a blessing that no development has recently taken place, the mangroves are working full time for us in producing fish for our consumption, especially since mangroves have been willfully destroyed elsewhere, for example in the Jolly Beach area.

MANGROVES and swamps support a rich fauna and flora and fringe parts of the coast of Guiana Island, but most of the island consists of xerophytic trees and scrub, an example being the attractive Dagger or Agave, Antigua’s national flower.

Here are reasons why mangroves are IMPORTANT to Antigua and Barbuda. They prevent erosion of land by the sea, build up soil, preserve food and are nurseries for many kinds of fish and sea creatures and make a home for wild life, so important to us in these days of eco-tourism. It has been calculated that two thirds of the world’s fish harvest depends on mangroves, the overall value to man of one acre of mangrove is estimated at $8,400 EC annually and the harvest of seafood linked to the mangrove food cycle yielded, in one year in Florida, shrimp worth $15.7 million and sea trout $1 million. These figures, therefore, must show that mangroves must be of some economic value to us here in Antigua and Barbuda as well.

Let us hope that Guiana Island will be used in the future that will honour its full potential, environmentally, ecologically, historically and economically.

At the north-eastern point of Antigua there is a remote wild area known as Indian Town Point. It was probably given this name in the 17th century when the early European settlers may have seen the remains of an extensive Arawakan Indian settlement. This was known to have existed at the head of Long Bay through present day archaeology.

The area was legally constituted a National Park in the 1950's. Within the park there is a remarkable example of sea-water erosion. Geologically,oded away by action of Atlantic breakers over countless centuries. Devil's Bridge is a natural arch carved by the sea from soft and hard limestone ledges of the Antigua formation, a geological division of the flat north-eastern part of Antigua. A bridge was created when a soft part of the limestone er

The oceanic waves are considerable, since the trade-wind blows constantly from the east. There being no land between Antigua and Africa, the waves have a three thousand mile fetch, enough to produce enormous swells and energy. Although the bridge is no more than about thirty feet long and about 12 feet high, the foaming breakers below are very impressive.

WHY A BRIDGE OF THE DEVIL? Sammy Smith, a 104 year old Antiguan patriot had the answer. Here is a quote from his memoirs ``To Shoot Hard Labour'', by Smith & Smith, page 109:

``On the east coast of island is the famous Devil's Bridge. Devil's Bridge was called so because a lot of slaves from the neighboring estates used to go there and throw themselves overboard. That was an area of mass suicide, so people use to say the Devil have to be there. The waters around Devil's Bridge is always rough and anyone fall over the bridge never come out alive.''

Coral reefs thrive off the Devil's Bridge Park. A coral reef is a wave-resistant mass of coral and algae together with a large number of invertebrate marine animals that encrust or bore within the reef. They are one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world. Teeming with life, they are also one of the world's most productive natural communities. The reefs of Antigua are exceptional in their variety and beauty. Near Devil's Bridge, there is a small white sandy beach off which there are numerous corals that can be seen while snorkelling. Here is a fine example of a form of coral formation known as a 'Fringing Reef'.

DEVIL’S BRIDGE makes a fine eco-tourism area and could be improved with little expense. It gives a visitor the feel of nature, contrasting the foaming Atlantic Ocean’s easterly trade-wind with a sheltered beach within the calm bay to the west.

One of the finest mixed evergreen deciduous forest walks may be had at Wallings. Proceed westerly from John Hughes village up a slight gradient. At the top on turning to the left, is the pumping station of Wallings reservoir. From the station, start walking westerly to find the footpath that leads to the reservoir.

After walking about half a mile along dry scrubland with scattered trees, the spillway of the dam appears. The workmanship of this fine example of Victorian industrial architecture is truly magnificent with its rounded capping and small round tower. The reservoir was started in 1890, but there were complaints in 1897 that it could not hold water. However, it was finally finished to perfection in 1900. It was designed to hold 13 million gallons. Nine years later it had to be repaired again. It was then supplying thirty water tanks in fifteen villages. In 1912, after three years of drought, Wallings became empty, but later heavy rains fell in October and November of that year. A small additional dam creating the Fig Tree reservoir next to the main road was finished in November 1945. This was used to pump additional water up to Wallings. Together these two reservoirs cover 268 acres with a storage volume of 50 acres/ft.

In 1915, 13 acres of the reservoir catchment area were sown with tree seeds with a view to reforestation, as the area had become denuded after the turn of the century. In recent years some attention has been focused for both watershed protection and forestry products. Follow the east bank and find a rough footpath that meanders upwards into the forest. Proceed slowly and quietly to listen and watch for birds. If you are lucky you could observe a black whiskered vireo (Vireo altiloquus), Antillean euphonia (Euphonia musica) or a red-necked pigeon (Columba squamosa). On your way back, explore the back of the reservoir where some interesting water diversion channels and sediment traps can be seen.

The predominant tree species are locust (Hymenaea courbaril), ironwood (Exostema caribaeum), mahoe (Daphnosis caribaea), black loblolly (Pisonia fragrans), and mango, (Mangifera indica). Of the mid-level types are white cedar (Tabebuia pallida), turpentine (Bursera simaruba), and gunstock (Gauzuma martinicense). In the lower level are mahogany (Swietenia mohogani), Spanish oak (Inga laurina) and white prickle (Zanthoxylum martinicense).

In a certain area near the reservoir, picnic tables have been installed. Plan to make an outing into this section of Antigua's forest - a perfect place for peace and quiet in this bustling world - full of history and natural history.

This is another natural area with a fabulous white sand beach, with a wide luxuriantly wooded valley behind it. Here aboriginal Amerindians speaking the Arawakan language once built a village, and many archaeologically interesting artifacts have been excavated for the Museum.

The valley extends from the Wallings Reservoir watershed about 1,000 ft high, down to sea-level at the western portion of the bay. The area includes the ruins of Doeg's and Barter's estates, around which some agricultural activity still takes place. The tower of an ancient sugar mill may be seen high up on a wooded spur, a mute reminder of a past industry.

On a rounded hill at the east end of the bay is the site of the Rendezvous guard house, which once mounted a gun for coastal defence. The bay includes Ding-a-Dong Nook, where Edward Warner's wife was safeguarded in a keep after her rescue from the Dominica Caribs in 1640. Rendezvous Beach is one of the finest and most secluded in the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park.

After a walk along the western peninsula that protects English Harbour to Fort Berkeley, another of Antigua’s natural attractions may be observed. The Fort is the best place to view the 'Pillars', other than by boat. Across the narrow harbour entrance is the ‘Pillars of Hercules’, caused by weather erosion of a softer rock. The large pillar-like formation faces the hot western evening. It is sheltered from the constant easterly trade wind with its accompanying showers. Thus, the soft sandstone rock becomes dry and crumbly. Wind eddies over eons of time have eroded the cliff into the spectacular formation seen today. Hawksbill Rock on the east coast, and the westerly sides of old ruins, are other examples of this geological action.

The Trails of the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park are:

1. Middle Ground Trail

2. Jones Valley Trail

3. Lookout Trail

4. Carpenter Rock Trail

5. Clarence House Trail

Distance: 1 mile Elevation gain: 500feet Difficulty: moderate, with some scrambling over boulders

The Trail: Beginning at the trailhead at the entrance to Fort Berkeley, proceed up the short hill that will take you through some most interesting volcanic rock formations, bringing you to an open plain where Amerindian artifacts have been discovered and from where you can see spectacular views of Snapper Hole. Continue following the white dots on the rocks across the plain and on up the steep hillside to One Gun Battery. This is the only difficult part of the hike, but it is made quite simple if you follow the dots and use the steps carved into some of the rocks. From One Gun Battery and its lone Black Willow (Capparis sp.) tree, you have a commanding view of all of English Harbour. The trail continues over some large boulders -- be sure to see the ones on the left that have been hollowed out by soldiers of African origin who once ground their cassava in these “mortars”. Soon you are at Middle Ground. Here you will see the foundations of the barracks and the three interconnecting cisterns. (Do not walk on the bridge that connects two of them -- it is very unstable!!) Picking up the trail again, you’ll pass the ruins of the kitchen as you head to Fort Cuyler, about a third of a mile down the trail. Before reaching the Fort, there are a couple of overlooks from which you can see Snapper Point and Windward Bay; be sure to turn around and view the interior of Antigua as well! Fort Cuyler offers views of the entrance to Falmouth Harbour, Fort Charles (the small island on the other side of the Harbour), and the moorings at the Yacht Club. On a clear day, Montserrat is quite visible and to its right, the small island of Redonda, and in the distance, St Kitts. From the Fort, the trail picks up down the right side between the gun platforms and the foundations of the armory, following again the white dots. Parts of the descent can be steep; walk carefully! Steps have been built along one particularly difficult part. At the bottom of the steps, you’ll find Pigeon Beach, the end of the trail. Have a cooling swim!

To return, you may either retrace your steps or, for a much easier trek, proceed up the road to the right, staying to the right when you reach a junction half way up the hill. The road turns into macadam and as you approach English Harbour, you’ll see on your left the huge cistern built in about 1730 to supply the ships with water; be sure to read the sailors’ “graffiti” on the cement walls! From there, it is just a quick walk to the entrance to English Harbour.

JONES VALLEY TRAIL (Galleon Beach Road to Shirley Heights)

Distance: 1 mile Elevation Gain: 500 feet Difficulty: easy, with some boulders to scramble over. Mostly in the shade.

The Trail: Beginning at the trailhead at the foot of the steep hill that leads down to Colombo’s and Galleon Beach from the Shirley Heights Road, you’ll follow a well-marked trail (white dots) along a dry creek bed. As you slowly gain altitude, you’ll come to the ruins of a dam. Take the steps on the far side (right as you face the stone wall) to the top where you can picture in your mind how the dam must have looked 250 years ago. Such a quiet and peaceful place! Looking behind you, you’ll see the white dots again. The trail now winds gently upward through acres of woods, eventually leading to an out-cropping of rocks; here you will be surprised to see how much altitude you have gained! Just around the corner on the trail is a gravesite with, unfortunately, most of the inscriptions worn away from the tombstones; you should be able to find at least one that is still readable. And you’ll see the child’s gravestone. Just before you reach the end of the trail, you’ll see a huge cistern and the brick sluiceway that fed the water from the near-by barracks to it; note the ingenious sediment trap that collected dirt and debris from the water before it went into the cistern.

To return, you may either retrace your steps or take the Lookout Trail that brings you out about 100 yards from where you started. For the more adventuresome, walk directly across the road, over the small rise, and take the Carpenter Rock Trail down to Galleon Beach.

Distance: ½ mile Elevation Gain: 500 feet Difficulty: easy, with a few rocks to scramble over. Mostly in the shade.

The Trail: To find the trailhead, begin at the Lookout (where the steelband plays on Sunday evenings), walk past the BBQ grill and shelters, and you’ll see the Lookout Trail signpost. One very interesting aspect of this trail is that over 20 trees have been identified and marked with their common name on small aluminum tags; look for them on the trees, hanging by wires, about 4 to 5 feet off the ground. As the trail meanders down the hill, first through a small, grassy field and then through bush, you’ll come to a large, rock out-cropping which provides a commanding view of Galleon Beach and Freeman’s Bay. Carefully following the marked trail over and around the boulders, you’ll wind down the hill -- the last 50 feet are steep! -- to the road to Galleon Beach and the end of the trail.

To return, you could retrace your steps or turn to the right where, after 100 yards, you’ll see the trailhead sign for the Jones Valley Trail, that will also take you back to the top of Shirley Heights.

Distance: 1 ½ miles Elevation Gain: 500 feet Difficulty: the first half is moderate (there’s an alternate route to return); the second half, considerably more difficult, the most arduous of the trails. (A pocketknife or pliers for removing Turk’s Head cactus plant thorns from your shoes would be a very useful item to carry with you.)

The Trail: The trailhead is at Blue Haven the far end (southeastern-most) beach of Freeman’s Bay. You can reach it by either taking a dingy or by walking along and past Galleon Beach. Once at the trailhead, continue along the shoreline, walking over the rocks, almost to the point of land just opposite Fort Berkeley. You’ll see some ruins of gun platforms and buildings. It was here that the immense chain, that was stretched across the entrance to the harbour, was raised. Look across the water and you’ll see the imbedded cannon in the rock below the fort that secured the other end of the “floating” chain. The trail climbs quickly up to Fort Charlotte, from where a breath-taking vista of English Harbour and the Caribbean Sea can be seen. Even more spectacular views of rock formations and waves crashing on them are seen as you move along to Carpenter Rock. At one point, the trail diverges, with the white dots being the recommended trail and the red ones marking the trail for those where height is not a concern -- it does go near a cliff edge. At Carpenter Rock, there’s a huge cave near the water that is well worth a visit but to get to it you will need to do some careful scrambling over boulders. After exploring the cave, return to the trail, and either follow the dirt road on your left back to Fort Charlotte, or continue along the trail that is going to take you to the top of the most distant hill by way of Nanton Point, the hill you see off to the right along the shoreline! It will be steep at times, but the real annoyance will be the thorns from dead Turk’s Head cactus (Melocactus intortus); a device for removing them from your shoes would be most useful to carry! The trail leads along the flat rocks and meets goat paths that take you to Nanton Point. Super views of Antigua’s rugged southern coastline await those who get this far. It is all uphill from here, as the trail switches back and forth, past more caves and rock formations, and along promontories that make you glad you brought your camera. At the top is the site of the old hospital whose foundations can barely be seen. This is the end of the trail.

To return, you could retrace your steps (no way!) or proceed to the Lookout (the Sunday steelband location) and take the Lookout Trail back to Galleon Beach. For those of you still looking for more exercise, take the Jones Valley Trail back! (If you walk to the small rise on your right as you leave the signpost, you’ll see the one for Jones Valley, just across the road.)

The Trail: The hardest part about this walk is finding the old stone wharf that marks the trailhead! To find it, leave by boat (there's a ferry available) from the capstans in English Harbour and go directly across the harbour, steering towards the mangroves to the left of Clarence House. As you approach the shoreline, you should see the wharf jutting out from the mangroves. Secure the dingy and follow the trail to the immediate right along the shoreline. Soon you will arrive at the immense anchor with one of its flukes firmly buried in the ground; it was used to aid in warping the Men of War into the Dock. Further along the trail, you’ll encounter rows of wide concrete slabs set in the hillside -- they are the remnants of the viewing area for the “Son et Lumiėre" (“Sound and Light”), a 1960’s production that told the story of English Harbour. Another 50 yards up the trail and you are at Clarence House, the home built for the Commissioner of the Dockyard in1806 and presently under restoration. Many of the photos for posters and postcards of English Harbour have been taken from this vantage point.

To return to your dingy, either retrace your steps, or take the much shorter and easier route down the dirt track to the right as you face the Harbour.

WARNINGS!

A DISCLAIMER!

The good news is that there are no snakes, the lizards are harmless, mongooses flee at the sight of you, any strange noise in the bush is the sound of goats leaving quickly. So what do you have to be concerned about?

1. The Manchineel tree, with the little green apples (sometimes black). Poisonous. DO NOT touch any part or sit under a tree when it rains. Just Keep away! It causes burns.

2. Thorns. Make sure you do not reach for a handful of thorns instead of support.

With any outdoor activity, especially one involving climbing over boulders as these trails do, there is a chance of injury. Your use of the trails is your consent that the National Parks will not be held responsible for any injuries sustained. While we have made these trails as 'friendly' as possible, mishaps can occur. We encourage you to be careful. Please have a fun, safe, and relaxing time on the trails!

In1843, a travel writer wrote, "The shores of the bay boast their silver fringe of sand, which is often selected by the parent turtle as a place of safety in which to deposit her 200-300 eggs...” Alas, very few turtles venture into Falmouth now, as it has become a heavily used yachting harbour. The lovely shells once found at Pigeon Beach seldom exist any more. However, this fine beach, sheltered behind Bishop’s Rock reef, is still very beautiful, and is now the most popular and widely used beach in the park, enjoyed fully by local inhabitants, tourists and yachts people. In recent years, the beach has been improved by the National Parks Authority, which has cleared bush, provided umbrella picnic tables and marked a safe swimming area. Most important of all, the Park provides and regularly empties rubbish containers.

This jewel near Pigeon Beach and just outside Falmouth Harbour faces south towards the Caribbean Sea and is the antithesis of Pigeon Beach because of its’ rugged nature and its feeling of solitude. One can look down on it from the half moon shaped battery of Fort Cuyler overlooking the harbour entrance, which can be accessed using the marked trail up from Pigeon Beach. This secluded segment of the Middle Ground peninsula has been designated as a natural area in the land use plan for the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. The beach is bold and rocky with an over-hanging cliff. With no human development apparent, one can truly enjoy the power and peace of nature.

It is here that scientists come to search for the rare shell named Nutting's Vase, Vasum nuttingi, found in the West Indies only in St. Paul’s, Antigua, and Spanish Point, Barbuda, and in few other places in the world.

An under-water rock ledge extends along the white sandy beach, making the bay more difficult for sea-bathing, but excellent for scenic snorkelling. Windward Beach is rimmed and protected by a fine grove of sea-side grapes, behind which lies an extensive salt flat favoured by bird watchers. The pastime of bird-watching opens visitors’ and nature lovers’ eyes to their beautiful surroundings, which we certainly have here!

This quiet spot is on the shoreline south of Shirley Heights Lookout, is a natural shelf of rock lying horizontally just above sea-level on a calm day. It is named after Henry Carpenter, the Secretary-General of the Leeward Islands from 1701 until 1711, who had a dwelling nearby.

When the sea is calm and the sun is warm, a human can feel the gentleness of the natural world, but one is also very aware of the power that lies behind these elements that surround us. It is good for us to be humbled in this way; let us not invade this special place too closely with the travesties of “development”.

Carpenter Rock is a place where people of the area have gone to fish, play on the rocks and climb in the caves for generations. Let us hope that children of the future can continue to have these experiences. Unfortunately, in recent years roaming animals have over-grazed the vegetation on the slopes above it so that this special environmental haven has suffered from erosion, and gravel has swamped the tide pools and eliminated the habitat of the small creatures that once dwelled there. If the slopes above it are protected from further degradation, will the forces of time and the cleansing effects of the ocean swells be able to restore the natural beauty and ecology of the Carpenter Rock area? We can only hope so.

Here was once a botanical highlight of Antigua and was a most photogenic attraction for anyone with an interest in unusual vegetation. This point of land is on the western side of the approach to English Harbour and is the most southerly point of the Middle Ground peninsula. It is situated on 110 ft. high cliffs, flat on top with rock pavement type vegetation. Here, until recently, cacti of four different species grew in great profusion in a spectacular setting overlooking Freeman’s Bay. Dominating the landscape were two species of barrel cacti, of which the Turk's Head was the most impressive. Another rounder type, the Pin-Cushion Cactus, was also extensive. The other two cacti were the Dildo Cactus, a columnar type and the Sucking Cossie, which has treacherous hooked spines that ensure the seeds stick to animals who carry it for distribution. Unfortunately, recent overgrazing by goats has sadly depleted this fragile area of its vegetation which was the subject of a glowing Smithsonian report in 1987. We can only hope that elimination of roaming animals will enable the area to heal and regrow its’ unique vegetation.

The birds of Antigua and Barbuda “help to open visitors’ eyes to their beautiful surroundings”.

Danforth in a 1934 list shows 87 species of birds for Antigua, 6 of which were considered hypothetical. He saw 61 species in a three-week stay. In 1977, in 20 hours of observation, Holland & Williams saw 61 of 91 species regularly seen on Antigua. In 1985, it was said there were 109 species and in 2004 about 120.

McKinnon’s Pond, North Sound Islands, Fitches Creek, Sugar Factory Ponds, Christian Valley, Dark Wood, Boggy Peak, Wallings Forest, Collins Reservoir, Potswork, Bethesda Reservoir, Windward Bay, Ayres Creek, Barbuda Lagoon.

McKINNON’S POND - Osprey, Frigate Bird, Brown Pelican, Greater Yellow Legs, Spotted Sandpiper, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, White Cheeked Pintail, Wilson’s Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Common Gallinule, Black Necked Stilt, Zenaida Dove, Carib Grackle, Kingbird, Black Faced Grassquit.

POTSWORK - Pied-Billed Grebe, Osprey, Great Blue Heron, Black Crowned Night Heron, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Snowy Egret, West Indian Whistling Duck, White Cheeked Pintail, Blue Winged Teal (winter), Common Gallinule, Killdeer, Greater Yellow Legs, Black Faced Grass quit, Grey Kingbird, Yellow Warbler

WALLINGS FOREST - Antillean Euphonia, Red Necked Pigeon. Wallings Dam – Broadwinged Hawk, Grey Kingbird, White Crowned Pigeon, Bananaquit, Antillean Crested Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Redstart, Black-whiskered Vireo, Antillean Bullfinch, Black-faced Grassquit,

NORTH SOUND ISLANDS - Broadwinged Hawk, Sparrow Hawk, Osprey, Frigate Bird, West Indian Tree Duck, Fulvous Whistling Duck, White-cheeked Pintail, Sooty Tern, Roseate Tern, Least Tern, Bridled Tern, Brown Noddy, Laughing Gull, Red-billed Tropic Bird, Brown Pelican, White Crowned Pigeon, Zenaida Dove, Mangrove Cuckoo, Grey Kingbird, Caribbean Elaenia, Black–whiskered Vireo.

BODY PONDS - Road – Zenaida Dove, Grey Kingbird, Black-faced Grassquit, Ground Dove

BARBUDA LAGOON - Magnificent Frigate Birds, Brown Pelican, Brown Booby, Royal Tern.

The serious as well as the casual birder will be provided with informative assistance in finding and identifying the birds that reside or visit our shores.

Bird Guide Victor Joseph is available on Sundays 6 am to 9 am and Mondays to Thursdays 3 pm to 6 pm.

Fee US$30/person. One day's notice will be greatly appreciated. vjosephlib@yahoo.com

The Botanical Garden, now to be known as Victoria Park, provides a fine park-like setting to increase public awareness and an appreciation of plants and the natural environment. It is used as a place for relaxation and meditation as it is a natural oasis in town with an aesthetic setting for social interaction.

Botanic gardens provide an atmosphere for group discussions and other services that encourage the exchange of environmental and botanical information among interested groups and individuals. Gardens are tourist attractions, as visitors are always keen to learn about the plants of the land they are witnessing. Botanic gardens can be laboratories in which schoolchildren appreciate natural sciences. Antigua could use a Botanical Garden for agricultural purposes, providing a wide range of species and it appears that this is in the making at a new 40 acre site in the Dunnings area.

The Botanical Garden is located in Victoria Park at the top of St. John’s in the “greenbelt” area of the city. It borders the Queen Elizabeth Highway and Independence Avenue. The Garden is just to the east of the National Archives and the site for the new Public Library building. It was due to the encroachment of these buildings on the original 9 acre garden, leaving a little over 5 acres, that it was decided to go forward with a park like atmosphere and develop a new Botanical Garden , set in a most beautiful natural part of the island at Dunnings.

The original Garden was created in 1893, and its eight acre site became the only real park in St. John’s. In 1918, a visitor from the University of Iowa wrote that the Garden was laid out “with much art and was well kept”. However, in following years the Garden gradually lost its popularity and by the 1960’s it had greatly deteriorated.

In 1987, the Botanical Garden Society was formed and two years later a legal Board of Governmental and non-governmental members was established. Much work was done, and in 1993 centennial celebrations were held. Due to lack of funds the garden soon fell into disrepair. In 2004 the Government established a new Board and much work is being done to reclaim the Garden as a Park and greenbelt area for the enjoyment of residents and tourists alike. Much emphasis is being placed on sustainability this time around.

As you enter the historic Garden you are immediately captivated by the unfolding majesty of an 80 year old African Cloth Bark Tree or Zulu Tree (Ficus nekbuda). The height of the tree is about forty feet high and spreads out about fifty feet and the trunk is enormous. This species is a native of tropical East Africa, where the bark is used to make cloth. The magnificent splendor of this massive tree is contrasted by rolling lawns, providing open space for family get-togethers.

Many large native Mahogany trees (Swietenia mahagani) can be seen around the Gardens. The dark red wood is highly valued for furniture, musical instruments, in ships and as a shade tree.

Another large native tree, of which there are many in the Gardens, is the White Wood (Bucida buceras). Its wood is very heavy, hard and strong. It was once known in Antigua as Black Gregory and was used for making gun carriages at the forts.

Lignum Vitae (Guiacum officinale) was once common on Antigua, but it was in great demand for the wooden parts of Antigua’s 109 sugar mills, as well as for medical purposes.

Devil’s Ear (Enterolobium cyclocarpum). This is named after the brown earlike seeds that dangle from the tree after it has lost its feathery foliage. It is used for shade and ornament in playgrounds and parks. It gives a good substitute for gum arabic, makes tannin, soap and medicine. The toasted seeds are edible.

Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana) The very large seeds weigh up to 14 lbs each and dangle from its branches for many months. The wine coloured flowers have an unpleasant odour. They drop each morning after blooming at night. The large seeds were used as an external medical. They are inedible.

Hazel Sterculia (Sterculia foetida) This tree flowers in April with a foul stench. The tree has been introduced from Asia. There is another specimen at Side Hill.

Mast Wood (Sideroxylon foetidissimum) This tree has yellow flowers and is a fair honey plant. It was once used as a heavy hard wood for construction, boats, heavy planking, furniture and fence posts.

Bo Tree (Ficus religiosa) Native to southeast Asia, this tree is sacred to Buddhists and is frequently seen beside Buddhist temples because Buddha meditated beneath one for 6 years.

Brownea (Brownea grandiceps) Native to South America, this strange member of the pea family (Legume) has large clusters of deep red flowers, a peculiar large leaf bud resembling a fruit pod, and purple and yellow mottled young leaves.

Many other trees which can be seen in the Gardens include the Burma Padauk (Pterocarpus macrocarpus), Golden Shower tree (Cassia fistula), Indian Laurel Fig (Ficus microcarpa), Strangler Fig (Ficus citrifolia), Siamese Cassia (Cassia siamea), Scrambled Egg Tree (Cassia glauca), Turpentine (Bursera simarouba), Casuarina (Casuarina equisetifolia), Geranium tree (Cordia sebestina), Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota), Saman Rain tree (Samanea saman), Flamboyant (Delonix regia), Palmetto (Coccothrinax barbadensis), Indian Almond (Terminalia catappa)and Pink Trumpet tree (Tabebuia rosea)

In the Garden is a small canyon, and on the steps to this shady gully you’ll be greeted by the melodious sounds of birds and tree frogs, which emanate from the hollow, beckoning you from its depths. Here hanging lianas drape from the branches of trees . Looking downward you’ll find the source of an audible rustling in the fallen leaves a ground lizard, one of three species found in Antigua. While gazing from the gazebo overlooking the canyon, you might watch a couple arm-in-arm as they enjoy nature in the quietest spot of bustling St. John’s. In the Garden there was once a playground and a bandstand.

The following projects are in progress: a children's playground, an ice cream and drink stand, a deck under the large tree and security and lighting. The Horticultural Society is working on a Cactus Garden. With the new dispensation of Government, which has lead to a new awareness of the general public, and there is a new interest in rehabilitating the Botanical Garden. In June 2004, Government appointed a Board to restore the Garden to its original beauty and to raise funds for that purpose.

Take a few moments out of your busy schedule and reflect on the beauty of nature that may still be seen around you in this historic spot. Perhaps there may be found the glory of nature to soothe the spirit and give you a peace of mind!


	FALMOUTH HARBOUR	FROM FALMOUTH PEAK	RENDEZVOUS BAY


	ANTIGUA FROM SPACE


	THE SPILLWAY (OVERFLOW)		THE VALVE HOUSE


	WALLINGS IN 1900		In 2000

The Trails of the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park are:

JONES VALLEY TRAIL (Galleon Beach Road to Shirley Heights)