The second best time is today.

When I drive past the Old Stables Corner at the intersection of Sea Island Road and Frederica, I think about the legacy given to this community more than 20 years ago when Ben Slade, Frances McCrary, Jeannie Kaufman, Jim Manning and many others decided to join forces and found the St. Simons Land Trust. It might not have been actual trees they were planting, but they were certainly planting the seeds of coastal conversation on this island. Just imagine what that corner would look like today if the site of the former Sea Island stables had not been protected from development. Where those scores of live oaks continue to bear witness to island life, there would now be a gas station. Or another bank, or grocery store.

Imagine if Dorothy Gilbert had not had the Land Trust to donate her family's property to and instead of the protected 40-acre John Gilbert Nature Trail, that runs from Frederica Road to the marsh, there would be another tarmac-covered, house-lined subdivision.

The greatest loss of all would have been if, more than a decade ago, the Land Trust and its partners and supporters had not decided to take on the enormous task of raising more than $25 million to purchase the old Couper Plantation, Taylor's Fish Camp, and other sections of what is now Cannon's Point Preserve. That act of faith and perseverance became one of the most important land conservation projects on the Georgia coast, protecting 608 acres of maritime forest and more than six miles of tidal creek and river shoreline that The Nature Conservancy says is of "global significance."

Recently I read that one definition of faith is planting a tree whose shade you will never live to sit beneath. As another new year has broken dawn on St. Simons, there is still much we can do to make sure that those who come after us have heads that will be shaded. One of our themes for 2023 at the Land Trust is "Living a Legacy." Those who founded the Land Trust are still very much living, thank goodness. They and we are able to see that living a legacy is far more enduring than almost anything else we will ever do.

Emily Ellison

Executive Director

On January 2, members of the Land Trust staff and volunteers participated in the National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count (CBC). This annual census takes place on a single day within an established 15-mile diameter circle. Volunteers spend hours counting individual birds that are seen or heard throughout their designated area.

Glynn County has the highest bird species diversity of any county in the state of Georgia. Thanks to staff at Little St. Simons Island, a second 15-mile diameter circle was established in recent years. This newer circle encompasses Little St. Simons Island, the Altamaha River Delta, Sea Island, and Cannon’s Point Preserve. The creation of the second circle affords the opportunity to more accurately capture as many avian species as possible that are utilizing this ecologically significant area.

This year’s CBC was completed by 36 volunteers covering 13 routes, identifying 12,742 individual birds from 134 species. Incredible!

More information about the Christmas Bird Count can be found HERE.

On New Year's Day, six dedicated runners joined the Quintanar Running Co. for a 3-hour endurance run along Polly's Trail inside Guale Preserve. Collectively, the group ran just over 86 miles! The furthest run was 21 miles.

All runners were incredible thankful to the Land Trust and its supporters for the opportunity to run in such a beautiful location on the first day of the new year. And we are grateful to Quintanar Running Co. for offering an event like this to local runners.

Land Steward Technician, Rebecca Cushing, worked with a group of dedicated volunteers in another successful morning of trail trimming at Guale Preserve. Together, they trimmed back palmettos and other vegetation along Middle Road, ensuring safe and comfortable access for both pedestrians and authorized vehicles. This team was able to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time, and we are truly grateful for their help!

Keep an eye out for monthly trail trimming days on the 2^nd Thursday of each month.

If you are interested in volunteering with the St. Simons Land Trust, please click HERE.

Minor repairs were required at the Harrington Preserve greenspace this month. Once again, our dedicated Land Steward Technician, Rebecca Cushing, was on the job. This is a small example of the work that our stewardship staff and volunteers take care of daily.

Our staff will continue to monitor this property regularly and ensure that it is maintained as a safe, accessible, and scenic place for visitors to enjoy.

Members of the Land Trust's Junior Ambassadors presented ideas and goals for their annual project to the organization's Stewardship Committee this month. For their project, the group will be certifying the Land Trust's office backyard as a wildlife sanctuary with the Georgia Audubon.

The certification process includes identifying and planting many native plants, and incorporating food and water sources, and shelter.

We are grateful to the Junior Ambassadors for their commitment to this project and to the Stewardship Committee for supporting these students!

To learn more about how to certify your own backyard, click HERE.

Have you checked out our new online store? This is the best location to purchase your new 2023 Land Trust Calendar, a SSLT hat or water bottle, and more. Happy shopping!

Pick-up: $10

Shipped: $20

Early this month, we sent out a survey to better understand what YOU value most about Land Trust communications. Thank you to the nearly 350 supporters who gave us feedback!

The results of the survey indicate that you prefer to receive SSLT updates and communications via our e-newsletters and special e-blasts. We were glad to know that 87% of you feel the frequency of our communications is "just right." Most of you think e-newsletters should be sent monthly, and the top three topics you most like to see in our e-newsletters include event notices, property updates and research, and information on the history and culture of Georgia's coast.

Again, thank you for your feedback! These results will help guide Land Trust communications moving forward. If you have not yet taken the survey but would like to provide feedback, you can do so by clicking HERE.

and the Land Trust's dedicated Pennies for Preservation partners. And be on the lookout for new 'A Penny For Your Thoughts' features coming soon!

Pennies for Preservation businesses raise funds to preserve and protect St. Simons Island.

1) Collecting a voluntary 1% or specific dollar amount donation from

their customers' receipts/invoices.

2) Donating 1% of their companies' proceeds or services.

February 4: Coastal WildScapes' Annual Symposium: Welcoming Wildlife Into Our Landscapes, Richmond Hill

February 17 - 18: Southeast Georgia Health System Foundation's Bridge Run

February 18: Fort Frederica African American History Festival

February 26: Keep Golden Isles Beautiful Community Jubilee Fundraiser, The Tree Barn at Bennie's Red Barn

February 28: Georgia Department of Natural Resources Build Your Own Rain Barrel Workshop, GaDNR Regional Headquarters

March 4: Glynn County School District's STEAMFest

March 21 - June 21: Great American Cleanup

April 22: Earth Day

April 22: Keep Golden Isles Beautiful Electronics Recycling Event

April 22: Georgia Department of Natural Resources' CoastFest

Every year, we are incredibly grateful to the many businesses and individuals who choose to support land conservation on the island through a 12-month sponsorship with the St. Simons Land Trust. These sponsors allow us to host events and gatherings throughout the year such as the annual Oyster Roast, Movie Night Under the Oaks, the Live Oak Society Reception, and much more. We are humbled and honored by their support and hope you will join us in thanking them for their commitment to sustaining a culture of conservation on St. Simons.