ABOUT 100 PEOPLE took the opportunity Saturday to explore one of only two remaining tracts of forest in Barbados.
The hikers had taken up an offer from the Barbados Museum and Historical Society to be part of a hike through Joe’s River Woods in St Joseph.
The hike, sponsored by LIME and the United States Embassy, was part of this year’s commemoration of International Year Of The Forest.
Assistant curator Kerron Hamblin explained that the hike could be the first of many natural history walks put on by the museum, with the others coming on stream next year.
The hikers started at St Elizabeth Primary School, with its breathtaking views of the East Coast. From there, they trekked part of Horse Hill, before striking off through a track, which wound its way inexorably uphill along a rocky, slippery trail.
Bearded Fig trees, Macaw palms with their barks of thorns, Pop-a-Gun trees and assorted others created an overhead canopy that filtered light for that semi-gloomy effect. Bright orange markers ensured that even those who brought up the rear could not get lost.
The trail, Hamblin explained, was a two-hour hike for the hiking enthusiast, but for the stop, stare and photograph walker, it was as long as he/she wanted it to be.
Spurred on by a photography competition, the majority of the hikers took the opportunity to look for that perfect shot in the hopes of winning several of the prizes on offer by the museum.
Joe’s River Woods encompass 85 acres of forest, gully and river and is only one of two such remaining forested areas on the island, the other being Turners Hall Woods.
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