Location: Cambridge Road, Somerset
Open dawn till dusk
Free admission
Somerset Long Bay East Nature Reserve is an extremely valuable part of Bermuda’s natural heritage and biodiversity. A unique feature of the pond in the reserve is that it lies within the Somerset freshwater lens, and so, despite proximity to the sea, it supports an essentially freshwater marsh community, including resident and migratory water birds. There are small nesting islands in the pond which have been colonised by several species of breeding waterfowl. As the pond is near the extreme northwestern tip of Bermuda it is an important first landing site for migratory birds searching for fresh water.
There is a small dock from which to view pond life. Invasive flora has been largely removed from the reserve and native and endemic trees planted.
Somerset Long Bay East was purchased by Buy Back Bermuda in 2005. Extensive work was undertaken expanding and dredging the pond - partially filled with trash in the early 20th century - to create a healthier environment for biodiversity. The reserve was opened to the public on Earth Day in 2007.
The addition of this reserve to Somerset Long Bay National Park and the Audubon Society’s Somerset Long Bay West Nature Reserve has created a protected area of ten acres.
