Once again, The Nature Conservancy has made it possible for life-sustaining land to be preserved for nature, wildlife and the people who enjoy them.
In the spring of 2022, the nonprofit purchased 294 acres in northern Greenville County, off U.S. Highway 25 near Travelers Rest. Soon it will transfer ownership of the property to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to become part of the Poinsett Bridge Heritage Trust Preserve.
“SCDNR is going through the due diligence and approval process now,”said Greg Lucas, SCDNR public information director, “and pending approval by state oversight entities, the property will be acquired as an addition to Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve and will be open to the public.”
Kristen Austin, Upstate South Carolina conservation director for The Nature Conservancy, said the purchase will benefit the community by expanding public access for outdoor recreation.
“SCDNR purchased the original Poinsett Bridge property years ago because of its historic and natural value,” Austin said. “Our ability to purchase this additional land will almost triple the size for this 120-acre heritage preserve. People love being in nature, and this will help meet the growing demand for outdoor spaces.”
The arched stone bridge which gives the preserve its name was built in 1820 by Joel Robert Poinsett, then director of the South Carolina Board of Public Works, as part of the state road from Charleston through Columbia into North Carolina. It is believed to be the oldest surviving stone bridge in South Carolina.
Protection of the additional land had long been a priority for TNC because of its proximity to the popular Poinsett Bridge site and because of the biological diversity it supports. The expansion project includes a unique oak-hickory-rich cove along a north-facing slope that harbors an array of wildflowers. The various forests on the property provide suitable habitat for a range of species including black bear, deer, turkey and migratory birds.
Although still common in many areas, native Eastern Box Turtles have declined over much of their range due to habitat loss.Austin said The Nature Conservancy became involved because land deals for conservation can take decades to pull together. When an owner is ready to sell, they often want to move forward without delay.
“Sometimes state and federal agencies need a longer period to assemble approval for a purchase,” Austin said. “We can complete the transaction a little quicker. Our role is to act immediately, giving government agencies more time to put agreements together so we don’t miss an opportunity for conservation.”
The recent purchase echoes a 2018 Nature Conservancy land project that added almost 1,000 acres on the west side of U.S. Highway 25 to Jones Gap State Park, where construction is planned on 20 additional miles of hiking trails.
“Land projects are made possible through public and private funding coming together,” Austin said. “To protect South Carolina’s natural heritage, we need both. This work could not happen without The Nature Conservancy’s supporters and public leaders understanding the importance of conserving natural resources.”
One such supporter is Perry Gilreath, a former Community Foundation of Greenville board member and donor in CFG’s Legacy Society. She explained why she’s been involved with TNC’s efforts to protect fresh air and clean water since 2016.
“I was born in 1943 in Pickens County, grew up in the Upstate, and have lived here all but four years of my life. My childhood was spent rambling freely through fields and woods and tubing the Whitewater River before it was dammed in the 1960s to form Lake Jocassee,” Gilreath said. “The Nature Conservancy is hard at work preserving as many of the natural areas as possible so that future generations can experience, as I have, the beauty and wonder of our state.”
