Beacon Farms' hidden wilderness

A new ecological survey reveals rare primary forest, diverse wildlife and exciting opportunities for nature-based tourism right on our doorstep.

Set on 34 acres, Beacon Farms currently uses six acres for cultivation and farming operations. Keen to understand the ecological value of the largely untouched woodland covering around 10 acres on the property, we invited local conservationist and expert on terrestrial ecosystems Fred Burton to conduct a preliminary survey.

Burton visited the farm in April to walk areas accessible by foot, exploring three sections to the north, south and east of cultivated land. He discovered a mosaic of primary forest, karst ridgelines, wetlands and seasonally flooded lowland forest that together represent a remarkable slice of Cayman’s natural heritage.

“If this proves to be representative of the remaining primary forest areas here, they certainly have ecological value and add significantly to the overall native biodiversity of the property,” said Burton who has authored two books on native trees and was formerly terrestrial manager at the Department of Environment.

Ecologist Fred Burton, former terrestrial manager at the Department of Environment and author of Wild Trees in the Cayman Islands and Threatened Plants of the Cayman Islands: The Red List

Native plant species

During his visit, Burton recorded 55 species of native plants species with many endemic to the Caribbean and two only found in the Cayman Islands. These include iconic species such as Silver Thatch (Coccothrinax proctorii), Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), Royal Palm (Roystonea regia), and Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus). The southern forest areas were a particular highlight, where primary forest gives way to seasonally flooded woodland alive with Royal Palms and abundant Mahogany.

A Birdwatcher’s Paradise in the Making

Even though Burton was not on site at the prime time for bird surveys, he still recorded nine species, including the Cayman Parrot, West Indian Woodpecker, Yucatan Vireo, and Caribbean Elaenia. He noted that the site would also support the normal suite of native and seasonally migrant forest birds. With expanded trail access, Beacon Farms could become a compelling destination for birders visiting the Cayman Islands.

Trail-Ready Terrain

Burton highlighted the karst rock ridge in the northern forest block as an ideal location for a nature trail with open vistas of the surrounding forest. A pre-existing track running through the area is already regrowing with mostly native species, offering a natural corridor that could be developed with minimal disturbance to the ecosystem.

Supporting Our Ecotourism Vision

As a social enterprise, Beacon Farms is gearing up to become an ecotourism destination for visitors to the Cayman Islands wanting to learn more about the island’s natural heritage as well as sustainable farming methods. In addition to weekly farm tours, the longer-term plans are to create nature trails around the property.

“With Fred’s help, we have confirmed the biodiversity and ecological value of the native forests on our land,” said Sandy Urquhart, CEO of Beacon Farms. “Developing ecotourism at the farm will protect these habitats while opening them up responsibly for more people to enjoy our natural heritage. Ecotourism will also create a valuable revenue stream for Beacon Farms in addition to our farming operations and services.”

This preliminary survey is just the beginning. Beacon Farms is now fundraising to conduct more systematic ecological assessment and developing the nature trails.