Berkeley Journal Volume 1

Fort Fair Lawn Update

Twenty Five Years Of Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust

On The Hunt For Quail And Conservation At Oakland Club

vol. l

berkeley journal

lordberkeley.org 2018

1

2

lordberkeley.org 2018

W E LCO M E

Raleigh West Executive Director Raleigh was born and raised in Moncks Corner, SC. In 2004, after graduating from Wofford College, cum laude, he began working as a project manager for The Trust For Public Land out of Charleston. During that time he obtained an M.B.A. from The Citadel.

Raleigh went on to earn his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2012. There, he graduated, cum laude, and received CALI awards for the highest grade in Real Estate and Land Use Planning. After law school Raleigh worked as an associate attorney in the litigation department of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A., until he returned to land conservation with this Trust.

I don’t recall many lectures from my middle school years, but there are a few gems that I still remember to this day. One occurred when I was in eighth grade, when I took the State-mandated safety course for purchasing a hunting license. During his presentation, the older gentlemen who taught the course, who I believe was a SCDNR wildlife biologist, described to us the evolutionary phases of a sportsman. First, he said, most young hunters like us would judge their success by how many times they shot the gun or how many trophies they took. Eventually, though, we would begin to evolve into sportsmen, which meant developing an appreciation for the opportunity we had to experience God’s creation in its most elemental form and a desire to pass that along to the next generation. Ultimately, that would culminate with us becoming conservationists, who would actively save for our children and grandchildren the rivers, fields and forests where we enjoyed our outdoor traditions.

I mention that because, in hindsight, I went through that same evolution as a young man hunting and fishing along the Santee River with my father and childhood friend. Some of my fondest memories occurred there and, doubtless, it left an indelible influence on me that carries on to the present. Certainly, had I not had the chance to see a sunrise over the Santee swamp or watch flights of wood ducks dance their way into some blackwater slough off the river, I would not have developed a foundational appreciation of that landscape nor the desire to conserve it.

Near where I grew up hunting is a place called Oakland Club, an 11,000-acre hunting preserve that contains some of the most critical wildlife habitat in the region along with the burial grounds of Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion. I recall every time my father and I drove past it how awe-inspiring it was to see first-hand the expansive, unbroken landscape of pine forest and native grasses. Thankfully, the conservation-minded folks who own this magnificent property decided to protect it this past year in partnership with our Trust, and, by doing so, permanently saved the central portion of the Santee Basin.

In reflecting, it is not hard to connect the dots between my experiences as a young man hunting in the Santee Swamp to my current effort to conserve it. Turns out that biologist was right: I have evolved into a conservationist and am actively working to save the landscapes that I first learned to appreciate as a young man.

In a time when cell phones and computer screens occupy most hours of our days, and when so many of our farms and forests are being converted into some urbanized use, I wonder how many kids like I once was will no longer have an opportunity to experience our natural landscapes first-hand or develop an appreciation for both their beauty and fragility. And if they don’t have an initial connection to these lands, are we as a community short-circuiting the evolutionary process for much of an entire generation to become conservationists? What then will our home look like if only a handful of the them, or even none at all, care to protect it?

Nevertheless, I remain hopeful that through the work of the land trust community to save places like Oakland Club and the broader Santee River that we will be able to ensure for our children and grandchildren opportunities to connect with our natural landscapes. And perhaps by doing so, we can rest more assured that the next generation will have the chance to evolve into conservationists themselves, who will protect what we love about our home well into the future.

Raleigh

lordberkeley.org 2018

3

Twenty-five years of conservation work in the Lowcountry hen the Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust began operating in 1992, it primarily focused on protecting land along the Cooper River, which at the time was one of the most threatened regions in the Charleston Tri-County Area. That effort resulted in the protection of some of the most ecologically and historically rich proper-

W

ties in our community and nearly 20 miles of frontage along the Cooper and its tributaries. Over time, the Trust has expanded its work into three other focus area: the Ashley River Headwaters, the Santee River and the Four Holes Swamp. To date, we have conserved nearly 35,000 acres of land and 52 miles of frontage on our rivers and creeks.

Order of Lord Berkeley n 1992, founding board members Barry Jurs and Charlie Glover, saw a need to create an organization that could help local landowners protect their properties in a manner that respected their private property rights. Inspired by that vision, they helped form the Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust and then served in leadership roles for the next two decades. In November 2017, the current Board honored each of them with the Order of Lord Berkeley, an award that we reserve for those who have given extraordinarily in the service of the land trust and our community. Mr. Glover and Mr. Jurs were the fourth and fifth individuals, respectively, who have been recognized with this award over the 25-year history of the organization.

I

4

lordberkeley.org 2018

Historic Purchase A painting of Fort Fair Lawn

by Susan Baughman

Holding the Fort

Fort Fair Lawn: the most pristine, intact, original Revolutionary War fortification in South Carolina.

Of the more than thirty forts constructed during the American Revolutionary war in South Carolina, only two remain in their original condition. The Trust purchased Fort Fair Lawn and 80 acres in 2016 and is in the process of master planning the site as follows.

2017

2017

2018

2018

Grant awarded

by Berkeley County to conduct archaeological survey and develop a master plan for the site

Lease signed to incorporate Fort Fair Lawn as part of Old Santee Canal Park

Davis & Floyd presents first draft of master plan

Finalize master plan, budget and archaeological survey. Capital campaign kick-off

May

August

March

Fall

2017

2017

2018

2019

Kick-off Meeting of partners: Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust, SC Battlegroud Preservation Trust, Berkeley Museum & Heritage Center, Daughters of American Revolution, and Old Santee Canal Park

Archaeological survey begins

Public input meeting conducted

Anticipated opening of Fort Fair Lawn to the public

July

October

Summer

Late Fall

lordberkeley.org 2018

5

ON THE HUN

6

lordberkeley.org 2018

& CON

NT FOR QUAIL Oakland Club easements will protect over 11,000 acres of native pine land surrounding Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion’s burial grounds in Berkeley County, SC

NSERVATION

lordberkeley.org 2018

7

The property fronts on roughly ten miles of the Santee Swamp and

In 2017 Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust helped secure a conservation easement on the Oakland Club property in Berkeley County.

HABITAT / GROWTH MANAGEMENT At over 11,000 acres, Oakland Club represents one of the largest, unfragmented, privately-owned forests in the Southeast.

Protecting it with a conservation easement ensures that this vast preserve will remain intact forever, and will continue to provide invaluable habitat for innumerable wildlife species.

With over 40 people a day moving to the area, the window to secure vast landscapes like that on Oakland Club is rapidly closing.

“Berkeley County is the 17th fastest growing county in the country (out of over 3,100),” noted Raleigh West, Execu-

8

lordberkeley.org 2018

tive Director for the Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust. “We don’t have many opportunities to protect such a large block of important wildlife habitat, which is so important given the growth pressures in our region right now. The project will conserve an area roughly the size of the peninsula of Charleston, Daniel Island, and Mount Pleasant inside I-526, combined.”

The property fronts on roughly ten miles of the Santee Swamp and in its natural state helps purify water in the Santee River watershed. One of the best methods of sustaining drinking water is to protect natural landscapes along our rivers and streams. This easement will ensure that this region of the Santee River will never be developed for industrial, commercial or dense residential uses.

HISTORY The Oakland Club project will protect the scenic vistas of

in its natural state helps purify water in the Santee River watershed.

native pineland surrounding Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion’s burial grounds in Berkeley County. The Property encompasses several historic French Huguenot plantations on the Santee River that were once owned by the Marion family, and where the legendary Revolutionary War hero and his family are now buried. Visitors of the historic landmark will forever be able to enjoy the natural vistas of pine forest and native grasses surrounding the site. In addition, the property will also be a featured component of the Liberty Trail, an effort led by the SC Battleground Preservation Trust to incorporate an historical tourism program featuring Revolutionary War sites throughout South Carolina. “We’re so pleased that these landowners committed to protecting the aesthetic integrity of Marion’s gravesite,” said Doug Bostick, Director for the Battleground Trust. “Other than perhaps George Washington, there is no figure more important to the Revolutionary War than the Swamp Fox, and certainly his burial grounds will be an important feature of the Liberty Trail.”

NATURAL LANDSCAPES The Oakland project conserves scenic vistas of the natural landscape from over a mile of the Palmetto Trail and ten miles of public highways. People will continue to have the opportunity to enjoy the scenic vistas from these various public vantage points. The project will also secure the natural landscape surrounding Marion’s burial grounds, which is available to the public.

TRADITION In a time when so many of our state’s traditional grounds for outdoor recreation are being lost, it is all the more urgent to protect hunting and fishing corridors like the Santee Basin.

lordberkeley.org 2018

9

20 17 DONO R S ORGANIZATIONS Corporate Member ($5,000 +) Ceres Foundation Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd Mills Bee Lane Memorial Foundation WestRock Weyerhaeuser Foundation Associate Business Member ($1,000 - $4,999) Cainhoy Land & Timber, LLC Davis & Floyd Home Telecom Joanna Foundation Land Trust Alliance Northern Trust Charitable Giving Program Nucor Steel Berkeley The Williams Company Supporter (< $999) Bank of North Carolina (BNC) Berkeley County Museum Berkeley County Soil and Water Conservation District Beyond Wealth, LLC Carolina Land & Timber Charleston Appraisal Services Design Works LLC Farmers & Merchants Bank GEL Engineering, LLC Palustrine Group RealtyLink SEWE South State Bank The Avery Company, Inc. Thomas & Hutton

INDIVIDUALS Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Proprietors ($1,000 +) Joe & Jackie Bartone Terry & Susan Blackwell Jan & Markley Dennis Ronnie & Nancy Givens Al & Dana Kennedy John & Ellen Morgan Robert & Greg Royall Jim & Kathy Rozier Parish ($500 - $999) George B. Bishop Rupert Dennis Ron Harvey Joe Kelley Henry Knight Bobby and Linda Morse Bob and Patricia Perry Barony ($250 - $499) Kevin Alford Scott Barnes Jim and Brenda Barry Joe Cross Sylleste Davis Andrew Dennis Charles G. Lane Bill McKenzie Eugene Oliver Neil Robinson Raymond C. Smith Carolyn Umphlett Norman Walsh Plantation (< $249) Herbert R. Allen Charles Altman Bill Baughman Elliott W. Bishop Arthur & Adah Brewer

Norman Brunswig Rick & Ann Burnette Calvitt Clarke John Clarke Eddie & Jennie Crosby Tom Curtis Wayne and Amelia Dewitt Bethel & Deannie DuRant Ann Edwards David Evans Beezie Fleming Ben Fleming Barb Ford Charlie E. Glover Steve Gramling Marietta Harvey Hicks Parker Hill Russell and Beth Hilton Barry H. Jurs John M Kadlecik Michael Kirby Gene Kodama Gary LeCroy Truman & Carole Lyon Duncan Newkirk Ron & Kim Nolte Sam P Parker Jr. Ray Pinson Michael Ramsey Phil & Adair Roark Byron C. Rodgers Jr. Charles and Mary Rudloff Sabrina Seay Russell Tyler William D. Umphlett Ron & Susan Watts J. Raleigh West, III Joseph R. West Gene Williams Larry Wyndham

We apologize if we inadvertently omitted your name or incorrectly listed your name in our list. Please call us at 843.899.5228 so we can make the correction for publication in our next newsletter.

In Memoriam Gifts have been given in memory of Richard McMaster Sprott by: Susan Brewer, Ellen Wallace Buchanan, Marion Poston Coleman, Kathy Davis, Jane Harris, William & Jennifer Howard, Michael & Cathryn Kennedy, Kelsey Leftwich, Laurens Livings, William Mayfield, Mary C. McCormac, Liz Mester, Martha Meyer, David & Mary Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, Hubert M. Rentz, Polly Robb, Bob & Lyn M. Sheffield, Joseph Gray & Kay S. Sprott, Paul & Barbara Walker Gifts have been given in memory of Eleanor Mayfield by: Allen and Linda Ballenger, Betty Anglin Smith, Roy and Carol Hawkins, Edward Mayfield, Elizabeth Mayfield, Lee Taylor, Joseph R. West * These include gifts that were received by 12/31/2017 10 lordberkeley.org 2018

SO C I A L

Celebrating 25 Years Of Conservation: Over 180 people came together to celebrate 25 years

of conservation work in Lowcountry at the 2017 Annual Membership Celebration.

lordberkeley.org 2018

11

Membership Celebration