The British Virgin Islands largest island, Tortola, is home to Sage Mountain National Park. This 92-acre reserve includes the 1,780-foot Mt. Sage and a forest with 15- to 20-foot tall fern trees, bulletwood trees, West Indian and broadleaf mahogany trees and white cedars. The British Virgin Islands comprise around sixty tropicalThe Park encompasses the highest point of a ridge running east/west along the spine of Tortola. The elevation of the Park ranges from 750 feet at the western end to 1716 feet at Mount Sage, which is the highest point in the Virgin Islands, US and British. Most of the Park is above 1000 feet, and at this elevation precipitation and cloud cover increase sufficiently to support some forest species (e.g., bullet wood, Manilkara bidentata) normally associated with rain forest in Puerto Rico. Several rare and endangered plant species grow within Sage Mountain. A small area of about 29 and half acres retains much of the character of the original forests that were found at this elevation and in guts in Tortola. This is because the rough boulder terrain here discouraged clearance of vegetation for agriculture apart from some selective logging. Since acquisition by the Trust in 1964, tree planting has been carried out on previously cultivated areas, using West Indies Mahogany and White Cedar, and some natural regeneration has occurred. Caribbean islands, located in the Virgin Islands archipelago.
At 1,716 feet, Sage Mountain is the highest peak in the BVI. From the parking area, a trail leads you in a loop not only to the peak itself (and extraordinary views) but also to a small rain forest that is sometimes shrouded in mist. Most of the forest was cut down over the centuries to clear land for sugarcane, cotton, and other crops; to create pastureland; or simply to utilize the stands of timber. In 1964 this park was established to preserve what remained. Up here you can see mahogany trees, white cedars, mountain guavas, elephant-ear vines, mamey trees, and giant bullet woods, to say nothing of such birds as mountain doves and thrushes. Take a taxi from Road Town or drive up Joe's Hill Road and make a left onto Ridge Road toward Chalwell and Doty villages. The road dead-ends at the park. The Park encompasses the highest point of a ridge running east/west along the spine of Tortola. The elevation of the Park ranges from 750 feet at the western end to 1716 feet at Mount Sage, which is the highest point in the Virgin Islands, US and British. Most of the Park is above 1000 feet, and at this elevation precipitation and cloud cover increase sufficiently to support some forest species (e.g., bullet wood, Manilkara bidentata) normally associated with rain forest in Puerto Rico. Several rare and endangered plant species grow within Sage Mountain.
The Mount Healthy Windmill is an outstanding symbol of the sugar plantation era in the BVI. It is the only one of its kind remaining in the entire British Virgin Islands. The 18th century mill overlooks the north shore of Tortola, and apart from the Callwood Distillery in Cane Garden Bay is the only relic from a period when sugar was 'King' not only in the bVI, but also in the Caribbean. The windmill was one of the two types used in the BVI. The others were mills operated by mules, horses or oxen. The windmill received its power from four long rudder- like arms turning in the wind. When the rudders turned, they powered the mechanism, a central shaft, which rotated the large rollers, crushing the cane through large iron rollers and squeezing out the cane juice. Just outside the area where the windmill stands, there are other remains believed to be the Boiling House and the Overseer's Quarters. James Anderson started the Anderson Estate (Mount Healthy) in 1798. It was then taken over by Bezaliel Hodge, Tortola's largest landowner. The estate changed owners as the years progressed and in 1872, John Dawson and Simon Scatliffe bought the mill from Augustus McClevity. After Scatliffe's death in 1881, Dawson bought the other 50 percent share and became the sole owner of Mount Healthy.
