Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve
est. 2009
About
The Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve is a 25-acre world-class, botanic garden in Governor's Harbour Eleuthera. It’s a wonderful and lush showcase of native and endemic Bahamian plants and is the first national park on the island. It was created in memory of the late Leon Levy and was founded by his wife Shelby White. It serves as a research center for traditional bush medicine, a facility for the propagation of indigenous plants and trees, and an educational center focusing on the importance of native vegetation to the biodiversity of The Bahamas.

Boardwalks and Trails
There are access boardwalks and trails in this park.

Bird Hotspot
This park has high bird activity.

Event Space
This park has suitable grounds to host an event.

Popular attraction
This park is a popular tourist attraction.

Visitor’s Center
This park has a visitor’s center.
The Perfect Native Forest.
The Levy Preserve is an excellent illustration of a healthy Bahamian forest. With zero invasives and no introduced plants in the main portions of the forest, it represents a true green refuge.
It flourishes with insects, reptiles, and birds that feed and live on the abundance of plants. As an outdoor classroom, students can learn about the native Bahamian terrestrial environment and the creatures that inhabit it.

Highlights of touring the Preserve include:



History
Nature Preserved.
The Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve is the fulfillment of the vision of longtime residents Leon Levy and Shelby White, who loved the natural environment and way of life on Eleuthera. After Leon Levy’s death in 2003, Shelby White wanted to celebrate her husband’s devotion to the island while contributing to a better future for all Eleuthera.
Working with the Bahamas National Trust, she helped establish a plant preserve where Bahamians and visitors can now walk miles of trails through the native habitat, and view the beautiful orchids, the food and medicinal plants, and the hardwood trees that played an important role in the history of the island.
