Legacy Farms Property Permanently Protected
Hampton County land expands footprint of protected lands
Lowcountry Land Trust is thrilled to announce the permanent protection of 367 acres in Hampton County. Adjacent to state-owned lands around Lake Warren State Park, Legacy Farms contributes to the significant momentum of land protection in rural Hampton County. Funding for its protection was provided by the South Carolina Conservation Bank.
“The permanent protection of Legacy Farms expands the footprint of conservation around Lake Warren State Park,” commented Ashley Demosthenes, president and CEO, Lowcountry Land Trust. “We’re grateful to be a part of the Polks’ conservation vision for their family property.”
The property’s diverse habitats include longleaf pine stands, hardwood wetland forest, and agricultural fields. In addition to hosting numerous types of plants, these habitats provide feeding, breeding, nesting, and roosting opportunities for a wide variety of wildlife species, including migratory songbirds, waterfowl, ground-nesting birds, amphibians, reptiles, and both game and non-game mammals.
“This conservation easement assists us and our children in carrying on the family legacy and protecting a rich history of traditions that my father, William C. Anderson, Jr. started and who instilled in us the importance of giving back to the land more than we take from it,” commented owner April Anderson Polk. “Our property is primarily managed for optimal wildlife habitat and forage grounds, including pine quail woods and dove fields, which is important since we offer hunting opportunities through our business, Legacy Hunting,” added owner and April’s husband, Jimmie Polk.
The South Carolina Conservation Bank provided funding that was a key part in securing a conservation easement. “Legacy Farms is a testament to what a conservation-minded landowner, a local land trust, and the South Carolina Conservation Bank can jointly accomplish,” said J. Raleigh West, executive director, South Carolina Conservation Bank. “The purchase of the conservation easement allows for the protection of property immediately adjacent to state-owned lands, while keeping the land in the family.”
The conservation easement closed on July 2 and will remain in effect in perpetuity.
