The Cayman Brac district committee of the National Trust has been actively involved in the community since its inception 20 years ago.
It has had the benefit of several dynamic chairs over the years and its work, both on its own and with the national organisation, has resulted in tangible accomplishments.
These include:
• The establishment of the 290-acre Brac Parrot Preserve in the centre of the Bluff, which is home not only to our own subspecies of parrot but also to an extensive list of flora and fauna.
• Acquisition of the Splits — a natural formation of large cracks in the Bluff, which extend below the water table, creating a year-round source of fresh water for wildlife. Many rare and endemic birds and animals inhabit the area, including a nesting colony of crabcatchers (Yellow-crowned Night Herons). Humidity from the Splits sustains numerous species of plants, including ferns, bromeliads and orchids.
• Renovation and operation of the Brac Trust House on White Bay Road, formerly the home of Mrs. Alda Ebanks and her family. The house is immediately adjacent to the Mass Gravesite where many Brackers killed in the ’32 Storm are buried.
• Acquisition of the historic Eldemire House, which was one of the few homes to survive the ’32 Storm, and which is currently being renovated to reflect life on the island during the home’s heyday.
• Several programmes have been running continually since the Brac committee was formed. These include regular hikes, which give members and friends the opportunity to socialize as they explore the flora and fauna of the Brac. Young Brackers have participated in both beach clean-ups and explored the culture and ecology of the island. One highlight of these programmes was the turtle tracking project in 2004, during which Brac youth walked the nesting beaches nightly and finally helped with the capture and release of a large green turtle called Sparky, who was tracked for several months via a satellite transmitter. The entire programme was incorporated into the primary school curriculum on the Brac. It’s hoped a similar tracking project can be operated this year.
• Over the years Brac members have hosted visiting scientists from around the world who have provided useful data on the island’s flora and fauna. In 2005 the Brac committee sponsored a solar energy workshop through FAVACA, which was held in both the Brac and Grand Cayman.
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