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Dear Friends,
Each year the Land Trust's Board of Directors and Leadership Staff come together for a day to assess our work over the past 12 months and to plan for the upcoming year. Since 2025 is the organization's 25th Anniversary, it was especially important this year to reflect not just on the previous four quarters but on the past quarter century and to envision St. Simons' needs for the next decades of growth and land conservation.
There was no one better to help frame our discussions last week, and to put our work into context, than Christi Lambert, Georgia Coastal and Marine Conservation Director for The Nature Conservancy. At TNC, Christi launched the Altamaha River Bioreserve, a national science and community-based landscape-scale watershed initiative. Over the past three decades, she has played integral roles in the protection and stewardship of more than 250,000 acres along the Lower Altamaha River Conservation Corridor and has led major shoreline, hydrological, and forest restoration pilot projects.
Christi is the first person I heard say that the protection of Cannon's Point Preserve and other properties on St. Simons Island is of "global significance." She was the first person I heard talk about land protection being part of a Conservation Quilt, where property owners, timber organizations, hunting clubs, small family farms, governmental agencies, land trusts, and others join forces to utilize as many creative ways as possible to protect undeveloped land. Using her family's handmade quilts as metaphor, it was Christi who helped us see the larger picture, who with her deep knowledge and boots-on-the-ground experience helped us understand better than ever the enduring legacy that can come through patience, partnerships, integrity, and taking the long view when protecting the irreplaceable natural beauty and heritage of St. Simons Island.
The Conservation Quilt
Pine needles threaded with
Moss and wild muscadine vines
Swirling bobbins of shell
Fabric of loam and marsh mud
This is our land, middens and forest floor
Ancient dune ridges of sand
Patches of waving spartina grass
Shorn by nature’s shears
The Guale, the Igbo, fisher
Farmer, rice, cotton, indigo
Colors of the quilt, now green
Now brown, white and black
Quilted together with gratitude, this
Tapestry of culture, history, and
Beauty, stitched with care, hope, and
Promise for all their tomorrows
A thousand thanks to Christi Lambert for her vision and wisdom. And equal thanks to all of you for being our loyal and generous partners. May you and yours have a safe, bountiful, and joyous Thanksgiving.
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Emily Ellison
Executive Director
| | The recent picnic area enhancements at Correll Trail at Oatland, nestled within the picturesque 40-acre property just south of Cannon's Point Preserve, reflect our commitment to enriching the community's connection with nature and education and the connectiveness of protected properties across the island. This month, two new interpretive signs have been installed to immerse visitors in the fascinating narratives of the surrounding salt marsh and maritime forest habitats. We hope you will embark on an adventure to explore this upgraded trail soon! | | |
Finally, Old Ironsides will get its due! We are excited to announce that starting Wednesday, December 3, after a number of delays, our partners at Coastal Greenery will begin transforming the Old Ironsides property into a landscape brimming with coastal grasses and other native pollinators, shrubs, and trees. Designed by Thomas Angell at Verdant Enterprises LLC, this revitalization will feature a permeable path winding through the property, accompanied by inviting wooden benches where community members can pause, reflect, and connect with nature. We eagerly anticipate the completion of this first phase of many upcoming enhancements along the Frederica Greenway, made possible by a bequest from Steve and Miranda Hires, Golden Isles Fund for Trees, the Terry Thomas Foundation, Live Oak Garden Club, Sea Island Garden Group, and countless individual supporters.
Similar work will begin at John Gilbert Nature Trail beginning Monday, December 22. Enjoy the transformations!
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Georgia Department of Natural Resources biologists and other GA DNR staff have partnered with the St. Simons Land Trust to remove invasive Chinese Tallow trees (Tradica sebifera) on the St. Simons Land Trust’s Hamby Tract, adjacent to the Coast Guard Station property and Coast Cottages.
Chinese Tallow has been deemed a top priority for removal by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in their Georgia Invasive Species Strategy. Removal of the species assists with important land management, allowing for the enhancement of the native coastal habitat found on St. Simons Island. Invasive plants such as Chinese tallow quickly spread and outcompete with native plants that provide vital food, shelter, and other resources and that are necessary for the survival of indigenous flora and fauna.
| | SPEARS PRESERVE AT HARRINGTON | | |
This fall, members of the Land Trust staff have been onsite at the Spears Preserve at Harrington to determine the placement of the future Elouise Spears Heritage and Nature Trail. This earthen path will weave through the property and provide opportunities for birding, hiking, and learning more about an invaluable piece of the island's and region's history. We look forward to beginning soon the creation of the trail and sharing the property and its many planned amenities with you early next year!
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SPOTTED
See below for native plants and wildlife found on Land Trust properties this month!
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Raccoon skull
at Spears Preserve
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Deceiver mushroom
at Guale Preserve
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Woodpecker feathers
at Guale Preserve
| | If you find interesting plants or wildlife while visiting Land Trust properties, share your photos with us! Photographs can be emailed to Raleigh Kitchen at rkitchen@sslt.org. | | | | |
GIVING TUESDAY
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
$35,000 CHALLENGE MATCH
applies to all who:
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RENEW their Land Trust membership
- Become a NEW member
- Make an additional ONE-TIME GIFT
On this special global day of giving, we hope that you'll join us and hundreds of others to protect St. Simons for their tomorrows!
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Cocktails for Conservation
TRIVIA NIGHT
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Ember/MAS
70 Retreat Village
5:00 - 7:00 PM
Tickets: $5/person
Teams of 2-5 people are recommended.
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2026 LAND TRUST OYSTER ROAST
Saturday, Feburary 21, 2026
Gascoigne Bluff Park
4:30 - 7:30 PM
Members: $110
Non-Members: $140
Tickets will be available for purchase to MEMBERS ONLY ($100 level or higher) on Monday, Febraury 2, 2026. General ticket sales begin Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
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Lantern Clean & Prep
at Land Trust office
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Trail trimming
at Guale Preserve
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Clean-up
at Serenity Tract
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If you would like to become a Land Trust Ambassador or Volunteer,
please reach out to the appropriate staff member or click the links below. Thank you!
SSLT Ambassadors: Raleigh Kitchen, rkitchen@sslt.org
SSLT Volunteers: Marty Moody, mmoody@sslt.org
| | DOROTHY GILBERT AWARD WINNER | | |
Former SSLT Board Member, longtime partner, 25th Anniversary Sponsor, and 20+ year member of the St. Simons Land Trust Patrick Parker has been named the recipient of the 2025 Dorothy Gilbert Award, the St. Simons Land Trust's highest community honor.
This award is a public expression of the Trust's appreciation of Patrick's contributions to land conservation in the Golden Isles. That includes the myriad ways that he has supported the Land Trust and so many other organizations across the island and throughout Glynn County for decades.
Thank you, Patrick, for your incredible generosity and commitment to preserving St. Simons Island!
| | | | This award is named for the late conservationist and philanthropist Dorothy Gilbert, who made a gift of a 40-acre marsh-front property to the Land Trust in 2006. Now known as the John Gilbert Nature Trail on Frederica Road, this is one of the most visited properties on the island. The award recognizes outstanding commitment, service, and leadership to the Land Trust, qualities so evident in Dorothy Gilbert and Patrick Parker! | | JEKYLL ISLAND CLUB INCENTIVE WINNER | | Please join us in congratulating the WINNER of the two-night stay at the historic Jekyll Island Club Resort with breakfast for two at the Grand Dining Room. | | |
CONGRATULATIONS,
BRIAN MCGEE!
“Soon after my wife and I moved to St. Simons last year, our neighbor, Jim Kielt, introduced us to the Land Trust. We were awed by all the Land Trust did and quickly realized that it is a big part of what makes this island so special and why we are blessed to call it home!”
--Brian McGee, SSLT Member
Sincerest thanks to ALL who renewed or upgraded their membership during this exciting incentive. Your commitment to the preservation of St. Simons is so genuinely appreciated, and your membership renewals are helping the Land Trust to make the wisest possible financial decisions as we near the year's end.
And of course heartfelt thanks to our partners at Jekyll Island Club Resort who provided such wonderful motivation for supporters to renew early this year.
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Waves of Wellness SSI
Located just north of Sea Palms along Frederica Road, Waves of Wellness SSI is THE island spot for sound therapy and bodywork. Owner Sarah Plummer is a GA licensed massage therapist, practitioner of sound and vibrational therapy, and a certified MLD therapist. She believes in the power of sound and touch to restore balance, relieve tension, promote deep relaxation, and support the body's innate ability to heal itself.
Whether you’re dealing with pain, stress, anxiety, or simply need a reset, Sarah's goal is to support her clients' well-being by providing highly personalized sessions in a peaceful space. With intentional touch, her clients can find relief, unwind, and recharge. Sarah helps activate the body's natural healing processes, allowing you to quiet your mind, release stress, and reconnect with your body.
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Thank you, Sarah, for your commitment to preserving our island home!
If you're interested in learning more or booking a session, visit the Waves of Wellness SSI website below.
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SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
November 29, 2025
on Small Business Saturday, Please remember to support our local Pennies for Preservation business partners by purchasing gifts, going out to eat, or grabbing a gift card. Your support of these businesses helps preserve St. Simons' beauty and charm.
| | 10% OFF AFTER THANKSGIVING! | | |
Just in time for holiday gift shopping, we are excited to offer our supporters a 10% DISCOUNT on ALL Land Trust merchandise beginning Black Friday (November 28) and lasting through Giving Tuesday (December 2). Visit our online store on Friday to begin taking advantage of this deal! No special code needed.
And remember, very merchandise order between now and the end of the year will come with a FREE 25th Anniversary Tote (while supplies last). Happy Shopping!
| | THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 SPONSORS | | | | |
