OPEN LAND TRUST
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
Bridging our Past with Our Future
story by WENDY NILSEN POLLITZER photos by PAUL NURNBERG
Our land is our legacy, and the Lowcountry boasts an exceptional portfolio of tracts that accentuate our cultural heritage, historical significance, and ecological magnitude. Fifty years ago, three people recognized a potential threat to these resources and an opportunity to create a more conservation-minded community and ensure our environmental treasures remain available for future generations.
The Open Land Trust (OLT) is South Carolina’s first and oldest land trust working to preserve open spaces, natural habitats, and the rural character of communities throughout the Lowcountry. While located in Beaufort County, the organization protects 153 properties across seven counties: Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper.
The OLT’s mission is simple. It protects significant ecological and cultural places that define the natural landscape while contributing to the health and spirit of the extraordinary Lowcountry region. Spirit is a keyword in 2021. This year we celebrate OLT’s 50th Anniversary. In 1971, Margarite Broz, Betty Waskiewicz, and John Trask Jr. established the groundwork to preserve the Bluff on Bay Street. Unheard of at the time, the three individuals understood the importance of protecting this iconic viewshed for the future of our community.
The grassroots initiative sparked an enthusiasm in Beaufort County to preserve scenic vistas. The campaign to preserve the viewshed at Bellamy Curve followed. In a very short time, two distinctive properties would forever define the character and spirit of our beloved town. The unparalleled conservation ethic in the Lowcountry was born.
OLT’s new generation of staff is dedicated to protecting the legacy and vision of its founders. Kristin Williams, OLT’s Executive Director, emphasizes her respect for former board members and staff: “We are forever grateful for everything they have done before us. We are standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Kristin assumed the role of Executive Director of OLT in January 2019. Her team in the Lowcountry includes Kate Shaefer, Director of Land Protection; Ashley Rhodes, Director of Development; Caylor Romines, Director of Stewardship; and Haley Romeo, Outreach and Administrative Coordinator.
The long-respected organization just bought their first home at 905 Charles Street, a visible reminder to local passersby that the integrity of our land can and will forever be trusted.
“We were born downtown. Our roots are here, and this is where we will continue to grow,” smiles Kristin. We have a great team now. And our energy will come together beautifully in this new space.”
Ashley Rhodes agrees, “People may have heard about OLT but don’t fully understand us. We want people to come in and ask questions, to get to know us better, especially all of Beaufort’s newer residents. We want people to know how they can get involved.”
Perhaps the biggest misconception is that the Open Land Trust only owns land. They do not. The OLT protects land in two ways: fee simple acquisition and conservation easements. OLT owns land, including Bay Street Bluff, Bellamy Curve, and Brewer Memorial Park on Factory Creek. OLT also is an accredited land trust, allowing OLT to hold conservation easements – agreements between willing landowners and OLT that protect important natural resources on a property in perpetuity. Conservation easements (CE) limit the development or use of the property to protect the natural resources, sometimes called conservation values of the property.
The CE allows the landowner to continue to own and use the land but limits what can be built to protect the conservation value of the land. The OLT is protecting the water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, scenic value, open space, and farmland by protecting the land. Conservation easements benefit not only the landowner but also the public as well. The Lowcountry boasts a working rural landscape along public water bodies with farmland for local food, making up thousands of protected acres.
“If we lose this land, we begin to lose our culture,” explains Kristin.
The OLT works with the SC Land Trust Network and the ACE Basin taskforce quarterly to understand which organizations should have those private conversations with landowners around the state. Those personal relationships are critical and can be hard conversations to have, considering they are talking about land and/or a business that has been in the family for generations. OLT doesn’t discourage development in the right places. They help conservation-minded landowners make better decisions about responsible development based on where they live. As we all know, regional developers are salivating over local properties.
A considerable part of the OLT mission, in addition to land protection, education, outreach, and partnerships with other organizations, is stewardship. The OLT commits to holding the integrity of the CE forever, going to every property at least once per year to monitor the property for subdivision, impervious surfaces, resources, timber production, and more. They also assist with grant programs with the US Department of Agriculture to help landowners maximize profit on their land. Additionally, OLT goes through a rigorous accreditation process with the Land Trust Alliance, the largest international governing body with the highest ethical standards every five years. OLT currently contracts with Beaufort County to manage the taxpayer-funded land conservation program known as Rural and Critical Land Preservation.
“We abuse the land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”
-Aldo Leopold
Within this program, Beaufort County owns some property as passive parks, and OLT holds easements on several properties.
To date, the Open Land Trust has protected over 25,000 acres of land in the Lowcountry. In 2020, OLT secured Conservation Easements on Oak Island, a 33-acre tract on St. Helena Island, protecting 7000 feet of marsh frontage on Jenkins Creek; The Rivers Place, 65 acres in Hampton, protecting a large Cypress wetland and significant road frontage on Hwy 601; Longwood, a 227- acre tract on St. Helena Island, protecting 6000 feet of marsh frontage on Station Creek and 5000 feet of road frontage on Lands End Road; and the Grace Tract Addition, 4 acres on St. Helena Island, increased to protect agriculture land and 300 feet on marsh frontage on Jenkins Creek. Additionally, in 2020, the OLT secured a Fee Purchase of Henry Farm North, an 88-acre tract on St. Helena Island, projecting over 1000 feet of river frontage on Eddings Point Creek leading to St. Helena Sound as well as 80 acres of prime farmland. Henry Farm North and Longwood were protected in part with funds from the County program.
Earlier this year, the OLT accepted a CE transfer from The Nature Conservancy on 518 acres in the heart of Lady’s Island at Holly Hall Plantation. It currently is managed for wildlife, recreation, and timber production with 16% set aside for rural preservation, 11% for agriculture open space, and 73% actively managed timberland. It features over 4 miles of river frontage, enhancing public views from Morgan River, Point Creek, and Rock Springs Creek.
OLT currently has an additional 11,000 acres in the pipeline to protect. With your help, they can protect even more.
Back in the 70s, founding members and volunteers hosted luncheons for tour groups in private historic homes to raise money for OLT. The luncheons featured “Hot Chicken Salad,” featured in the OLT’s cookbook, Sea Island Seasons. (In its 7th edition selling over 75,000 copies to benefit OLT). These luncheons happened every spring and fall for 25 years, which ultimately helped protect Bay Street Bluff, Bellamy Curve, and later Lemon Island, spearheaded by long-time volunteer Terry Murray.
To celebrate OLT’s 50th Anniversary, the staff brought these chicken salad luncheons back. Festivities began on May 1 with Brunch on the Bluff and kicked off a chicken salad lunch series. Through October and November, you can host a luncheon on Tuesday or Thursday from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. As a CSL host, you will prepare boxed or plated chicken salad lunches for twelve al fresco at your home. OLT will provide six bottles of white wine for your luncheon. For more information, please call the office at 843-521-2175 or email haley@openlandtrust.com.
Also, the ever-popular Auldbrass Tours will be held Thursday, November 4; Friday, November 5; and Saturday, November 6 from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at www.openlandtrust.org. Purchase them now, as they are going fast!
As OLT bridges its past with its future, a new event will wrap up the year of celebrating between the bridges at Widgeon Point on Lemon Island. Executive Chef Brandon Carter of Farm & Common Thread will host a five-course wine dinner with a guest chef in April 2022 — a culinary experience you don’t want to miss. More information to come.
Tickets go on sale October 1, 2021.
Beaufort Lifestyle Magazine would like to wish the Open Land Trust a very Happy 50th Anniversary and good fortune for the next fifty years! May the land speak to us always, and may we continue to be wise about the use of our resources.
“The frog does not drink up the pond of which it lives.” -Chinese Proverb
