PROJECTS
In line with the Strategic Plan developed in 2020, the NHCS actively seeks to fundraise for and implement a variety of projects in three priority areas, namely: Cultural Heritage, Historical Sites & Structures, Natural Heritage. Recent projects have included: Digitisation of endangered materials in the Archives; Reforestation at New River, Coconut Walk (winner of the 2020 Energy Globe Award); Restoration of wetlands at Nelson's Spring and Fort Ashby; Revival of Beekeeping in Nevis; Construction of the Nevis Centre for Archaeology Research; Conservation and Restoration of Bath Hotel; Strengthening Nevis heritage frameworks and accessibility; and Restoration of Hamilton's birthplace. None of these projects would be possible without the support of our numerous technical and financial partners, as well several individual member bequests. Stay up to date through our Facebook and Instagram and check out our recent Newsletters for more detailed information on our projects!
historic preservation: Restoration of Bath Hotel
The NHCS was once again been selected as a recipient of the prestigious and highly competitive U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) grant funded through the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown. On Friday, September 20th 2024, during the official grant signing ceremony and reception, held at Bath Hotel, NHCS Executive Director, Terysia Herbert and immediate former U.S. Ambassador, Roger Nyhus, signed the grant documents marking the NHCS’ official acceptance of the grant. In addition to the physical restoration works, the project has also involved stakeholder meetings and community events, a temporary exhibition, and a virtual exhibition coming soon!
Power to the People: Strengthening Nevis Heritage Frameworks & Accessibility
The NHCS is the recipient of an important grant in 2024 for a project dubbed "Power to the People: Strengthening Nevis Heritage Frameworks and Accessibility", under 'Creative Caribbean': a joint project by UNESCO, Caricom- Caribbean Community and the University of the West Indies (UWI). Project activities include: strengthening/revising Nevis-specific heritage legislation; establishment of a National Heritage Register; new Heritage Trail signage; and enhanced visual aids/marketing & communications materials, including virtual tours. The grant call resulted in 260 applications, and the NHCS' project was among only 25 accepted projects across the region.
Revival of beekeeping in Nevis
In 2022, in remembrance of NHCS member Quentin "Beeman" Henderson, and through the urging and support of some members, we sought to initiate a project to revive beekeeping in Nevis. Through a grant from GEF SGP United Nations Development Programme - UNDP, the Society is now part of the "South/South Apiculture & Biodiversity Initiative". President of the Caribbean Beekeeper’s Association and Master Beekeeper for the GEF initiative visited the Federation to kick off the project, and you can learn more from our interview with him for the episode of Dem Say right HERE!
restoration of wetlands at nelson's spring and fort ashby
The NHCS has been engaged in wetland restoration projects since 2020, and we are very grateful for the various financial partners for our most recent projects at Nelson's Spring and Fort Ashby: SMILO - Small Islands Organisation, the US Department of Agriculture U.S. Forest Service's Natural Infrastructure for Caribbean Resilience (NICaR) programme, and GEF’s IWEco Project. We are also very grateful for the continued technical support of the NIA’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries et al., the great work of our coordinators Jenny Lowery and Keithley Amory, and the continued volunteer efforts by all our partners, especially the St Thomas Improvement Group.