2014 Edisto Island Open Land Trust - Middleton Plantation

Oak Avenue leading to waterfront home at Middleton Plantation

Host Townsend Clarkson, Sponsor Calvert Huffines
with Lolla Lee and Se. Chip Campsen on Store Creek

The 2014 annual meeting and oyster roast of the Edisto Island Open Land Trust was held overlooking Store Creek at Middleton Plantation on November 16. It was just last December 2013 when owners Townsend and Stephanie Clarkson decided to place 9.15-acres at Middleton Plantation under conservation easement with EIOLT. This includes the main house, guest house and uplands that front Store Creek along with some salt marsh and a plethora of grand live oaks that add a stunning intangible to the grounds. Light rain in the morning gave way to dry skies and near perfect oyster roast weather, save the armada of gnats that decided to crash the proceedings. But with over 50-percent of Edisto Island now protected by EIOLT the entire ecosystem must be relished, and the patrons at the 2014 annual meeting didn't seem to mind since they stayed late in the day enjoying outdoors fellowship.

Protection Map from EIOLT

Bobo Lee, Karen Belser and EIOLT Director John Girault

EIOLT just announced a new easement in November 2014 on a portion of Sunny Side Plantation. Landowner Karen Belser of Columbia chose to protect 122.7-acres that includes maritime forest, agricultural fields and saltwater buffer along Store Creek. This jigsaw piece falls together with other protected properties at Sunny Side to complete a patchwork of conservation that everyone can admire. EIOLT John Girault presented Karen Belser with special recognition at the oyster roast for her conservation efforts. After business, event sponsor The Huffines Company made sure that the band played on, and the brew kept flowing, for the members of the land trust that were keen to shuck some more oysters.

To view a past blog entries about EIOLT click 2013 Oyster Roast - 2012 ACE Basin Mtg. - 2009 Spring Birding - 2014 Spring Birding.

To view a past blog on conservation click on 25th Anniversary of the ACE Basin.