Grafton Caledonia Wildlife Estate

[Joanne Green]

Hi to all you regular visitors to Tobago-

Have any of you visited the Wildlife Estate? Does the owner still feed the birds at 4PM? Is it well sign-posted off of Grafton Rd?

Looking forward to your comments!

Joanne Green

[Terry K]

Do you mean the Grafton Bird Sanctuary? If so, we were there early in the morning last week and it was very nice. There is a sign that is easy to see from the road so you won't miss it. They do have bird feeders out but can't say when they fill them. You may also be thinking about the Arnos Vale Hotel where they feed the birds at 4:00 and have tea. If you like birdwatching, you also could check out the Adventure Farm just down the road from the Arnos Vale Hotel. They have some trails to walk on as well as hummingbird feeders near the house and we saw 5 of the 6 species of hummingbirds very close. Have a great trip!

[PeterE]

Yes! We were there yesterday and managed to photograph a hummingbird sat on its nest about 25' up

[Martin Jay]

Sad to report that this seems to now be defunct - there are lots of "No trespassing" signs posted all over the estate and the road up to it. The trails are overgrown and the boards showing the map of the trails removed and left on the floor.

I last visited in November 2010, and the old guy that feeds the birds had turned up without any feed, I can't remember why he said this was, but the place is sadly now run down.

Anyone know what happened?

[Steve Wooler]

Hello Martin

Welcome aboard!

That is indeed sad news. I haven't heard anything about it, but will try to contact the owners and see if I can glean any information.

[Gabriele]

The Sanctuary Estate is not limited to the area where the feeding of the birds takes place.
There is a 'wider estate road' that reaches the top of the property, where it WAS possible to see the Buccoo reef from a distance. The Estate road would have (from there) continued descendeding and looping around to reconnect just above the set of antique ruins (passed the feeding place). There are several smaller estate roads or wider trails (3) departing from the left of the main estate road and one from the right. These paths were always clear and well maintained.
Since more than a year, the all upper property has become very bushy, and certainly not pleasant to cross not even for a person accustom to thick forrest.

[Steve Wooler]

With apologies for the delay, I've now just received clarification on the situation at the Grafton Caledonia Bird Sanctuary.

No - the sanctuary has not closed. Due to administrative reasons and falling visitor numbers and donations, it has not been possible for the Trust that owns the sanctuary to maintain it to the standards they would like. However, I understand that the sanctuary remains open and the birds are regularly fed; it's just that some of the trails have not been cut back. No charge is made to visitors - but your donations will help to ensure that it remains a visitor attraction.

[Martin Jay]

That's great to hear - but the multitude of no trespassing signs would put visitors off, I think..

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Martin

I really can't comment, because its a few years since I visited the estate and I don't recall any signs. However, I took this up with one of the owner, Jeremy McWilliam, and in his reply to me he says....

As far as I am aware there are no more 'No Trespassing' signs than before and this is the first time it has been raised as an issue.

Grafton Caledonia Wildlife Sanctuary is a privately owned estate that happens to be a Nature Reserve.
The owners ‘invite’ the public to share the surroundings of this privately owned property (no admission fee is charged).

The signs are there for a very good reason as the Law is different in Tobago than in England.

In England you cannot be prosecuted for trespassing but you can in Tobago so long as you have the relevant signs.
The sanctuary is plagued by poachers who kill iguana etc and will set fire to the bush to smoke them out. This is the reason why we have had very serious fires in the past that have come very close to Grafton House, Santuary Villas and Stonehaven and destroyed vast area of wildlife habitat. There was one house that did get burnt down right on the edge of the Estate. Without the signs the Police will not assist.

So, I agree that such signs are not exactly welcoming, but given the above, one has to sympathise.