Turners' Hall Wood
Turner’s Hall Wood is thought to be the last vestige of the original forest on the island. The wood has been proposed as a National Forest Candidate site. There are many trails that are frequently used by hikers.
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Description
The tropical woodland covers approximately 74 acres on the northern slope of an arc-shaped ridge and is a common hiking area that attracts avid hikers and nature enthusiasts. The trails commence on an elevated plateau and get progressively higher leading to a spectacular view of the east coast and the forest below.
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Natural resources
Turner’s Hall Wood is the most species rich site on the island, home to over 100 species of flowering plants, nearly all of which are native to Turner’s Hall, with some unique to the wood itself. It stands proudly as the last remaining tropical forest on island, there is no other example of genuine pre-settlement vegetation in Barbados making Turner’s Hall Wood unique.
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Activities and community
The site also boasts several seasonal streams that run through it. Originally it was also home to a boiling spring, where natural gas bubbled up through a pool of water and could be ignited for the amusement of visitors, unfortunately this feature has been lost with time.
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What is next
The site which is within the National Park is owned by The Government of Barbados and is considered in the Physical Development Plan Amended 2023 as a National Forest Candidate. However, it enjoys no legal protection status and is being encroached upon by development as well as suffering from other adverse effects due to mismanagement. For example, several years ago heavy machinery traversed the area clearing an unnecessary path causing much damage and erosion over time. Legal protection as well as a formal management plan is needed for the protection and conservation of the area.
