Caymanian Compass, April 21, 2004

By Cliodhna McGowan

The natural forests of Cayman are an "untapped tourist attraction" according to Cayman Wildlife Connection (CWC) co-founder Lois Blumenthal. "There is such a future for this type of ecotourism here," she explained. "It's really an overlooked tourism attraction and it needs no capital upfront."

Ms. Blumenthal was speaking after CWC's first Bush Walk for Earth Week which took place on Sunday afternoon in East End. The group hiked along Roger's Wreck Trail from the Queen's Highway to Sunnyfield Road.

Earth Week hikers enjoying the sunshine and native trees during the Bush Walk on Roger's Wreck Trail, East End.

"The tourists were thrilled to see wild parrots and they were very excited to see lizards, which we often take for granted. Also, seeing wild orchids and all the native flowers and trees was so interesting to them," she explained.

Ms. Blumenthal said she was "overwhelmed" by the turnout for the walk. "Twenty-five people came, which was wonderful. The group was an even mixture of local people and tourists. That little trail is short but passes through extremely beautiful forest," said Ms. Blumenthal. "We saw Parrots and other wild birds, as well as lovely and historic native plants like Wild Orchids, Fiddlewoods, Cabbage Trees, Duppy Bush, Wild Rosemary, Wild Jasmine and lots of Silver Thatch and Red Birch."

Ms. Blumenthal's co-guide on the walk was Carla Reid, an expert on wild trees and co-founder of CWC, which is an informal network that helps to preserve forests and learns about native plants. Cayman Wildlife Connection's message to people for Earth Week is to encourage them to learn five native trees that they weren't previously familiar with. "Everyone knows Red Birch and Silver Thatch, Seagrape and maybe Ficus - try to learn the Ironwoods, Cedar, Cabbage Trees and other more unusual and rare species," she emphasized.

Ms. Blumenthal extended thanks to Mr. Frank Roulstone of Explore Cayman, who donated his van to pick up the walkers at the end of their route. The next CWC Bush Walk is on Jasmine Lane near Spotts Landing and the last of the three will be in the proposed Heritage Forest in George Town. Contact Denise at 917-8395 to register.