The Grenadines Nature & Adventure

Flora and fauna

St Vincent has a wide variety of tropical plants, most of which can be seen in the Botanical Gardens, where conservation of rare species has been practised since they were founded in 1765. There you can see the mangosteen fruit tree and one of the few examples of Spachea perforata, a tree once thought to be found only in St Vincent but now found in other parts of the world, as well as the famous third generation sucker of the original breadfruit tree brought by Captain Bligh of the Bounty in 1793 from Tahiti. Other conservation work taking place in the gardens involves the endangered St Vincent parrot, Amazona guildingii, which is the national bird. An aviary, originally containing birds confiscated from illegal captors, now holds 12 parrots. The main colonies are around Buccament, Cumberland-Wallilabou, Linley-Richmond and Locust Valley-Colonarie Valley. A parrot reserve is being established in the upper Buccament Valley.

Another protected bird unique to St Vincent is the whistling warbler, and this, as well as the black hawk, the cocoa thrush, the crested hummingbird, the red-capped green tanager, green heron and other species can be seen, or at least heard, in the Buccament Valley. There are nature trails starting near the top of the valley, passing through tropical forest, and it is possible to picnic. The Forestry Department have prepared official trail plans. A pamphlet details the Vermont Nature Trails, Wallilabou Falls, Richmond Beach, Trinity Falls, Falls of Baleine, Owia Salt Pond and La Soufrière Volcano Trails.