O. D. Clarke Estate – 300 acres

O. D. Clarke Estate is located on Four Holes Swamp between US Highway 78 and Interstate 26 near Ridgeville.  This property is extremely important in the Land Trust’s cooperative work with SC Audubon, as it fills in a gap along the run of Four Holes Swamp between lands owned by SC Audubon.  With the exception of 2 other gaps amounting to just over 2 miles, O. D. Clarke Estate helps extend the protective reach along Four Holes Swamp to an astounding 28 miles—an amazing success story that is still in the making.  The main run of Four Holes Swamp borders the property along its northernmost edge and the majority of O. D. Clarke Estate (233 acres) is made up of bottomland associated with the Swamp which will be protected as a Preserve into perpetuity through the conservation easement restrictions.  The remainder of the property is made up of open fields and pasture, currently dedicated to the landowner’s equestrian facilities and operations, as well as some mixed upland forested areas with horseback riding trails throughout.  The significant conservation values of O. D. Clarke Estate will be protected forever, contributing to the health and species richness of the Francis Beidler Forest and the greater Four Holes Swamp watershed. 

Nash Property—71 acres

The Nash Property is located on Four Holes Swamp near Providence and is the northernmost protected property along the Swamp.  It is approximately 3 miles upstream from the nearest protected property, but hopefully with neighbor to neighbor contact and educational outreach on the importance of protecting the Four Holes Swamp, the gap can be closed over time.  Nearly half of the Nash Property contains bottomland associated with Four Holes Swamp that will be protected by the easement restrictions into perpetuity as a Preserve.  The other half of the property is comprised of upland hardwood, planted loblolly pine, open fields, and wildlife management areas.  The easement restrictions will also ensure that the property remains intact forever, allowing current and future generations to appreciate it in its rural state as it is today.  The landowners enjoy the property’s recreational opportunities and spend time admiring the beauty within the Swamp.  The wildlife habitat values of this property abound, as well as its positive impact to the water quality in the Swamp downstream.

Home Place—264 acres

Home Place is situated alongside Four Holes Swamp on Ibis Point Road near Providence.  Adjacent to the bottomland associated with the Swamp, the property contains very important transitional and upland habitats and acts as a buffer against development around this portion of the Four Holes Swamp.  This protects water quality and helps to preserve the ecological integrity downstream and into the Francis Beidler Forest, which is linked to Home Place by a number of other contiguous privately owned protected properties.  Home Place is primarily managed for recreational hunting and fishing, and sustainable timber resources.  The property is dominated by planted loblolly pine stands, with smaller areas of mixed forest and forested wetlands, and also contains wildlife food plots and a freshwater pond.  Home Place has approximately 3,700 feet of public road frontage along both sides of Ibis Point Road and provides scenic views of forested land.  Through the conservation easement, the tract will remain forever intact for generations to come.