Pee Dee Land Trust

Witherspoon Island sits on the Great P*e Dee River in Darlington County and spans over 3,700 acres of protected land. It is one of the most significant conservation projects in the region and a reminder of what becomes possible when a community decides to protect what it has.

Happy World Environment Day! The P*e Dee region is worth protecting, and we are grateful for everyone who helps make that possible.

It was a Beautiful Day For A Paddle!

Conway was the setting for PDLT’s latest spring paddle. Participants were able to navigate the rich, black waters of Conway’s oldest thoroughfare, the Waccamaw River, taking in views of historic downtown and Riverwalk Park. The paddle was a bit of a history lesson, as guides pointed out significant structures such as bridges and train trestles and how the river has been so important to the city of Conway. The scenic route lent itself to be the backdrop for many native plants and wildlife that were seen on the trip. The paddle ended with a delicious lunch from Conway Outpost at the Conway Marina.

Be sure to catch us on our next adventure on one of the many beautiful waterways that the make the P*e Dee Watershed such a special place! To see all of the photos from the day visit our website here : https://bit.ly/4viXAid

Photo credit to Anita Dodd Margulies.

PDLT lost a beloved family member on April 20th with the passing of Kenneth Lupo. Kenneth’s wife, Farris, joined our PDLT staff in 2021 and like with all of our staff members, her husband, Kenneth, and two sons, Baze and Kash quickly became an intricate part of our PDLT family. Kenneth had an infectious grin, easy-going demeanor and a deep southern drawl that made anyone who met him smile. He had a true heart of gold, never met a stranger, and was always the first to lend a helping hand. From parking cars at PDLT fundraisers, fixing things around the office, feeding staff while working late nights in preparation for events, to helping out with a construction project at a staff member’s house, Kenneth was always the first to volunteer to help do whatever needed to be done to support PDLT and all of our staff. We often teased him that he was our best “paid” volunteer, as he loved the cookies from our fundraisers and we always sent him home with a container full!

Please Save-the-Date – June 2nd, 10:30am-3pm, for ‘A Meal that Means More - LUPO Chicken Bog’, at Holt Bros BBQ, 2081 W Evans St, Florence. The Holt Bros BBQ family is most generously donating 100% of proceeds to help Farris and her sons navigate life without him.

Email Shannon Copes for more information at [email protected]

Protecting land means protecting the future of our community. 🌳

From wildlife habitats to the places we explore and enjoy, conservation plays a vital role in keeping our region strong and sustainable.

PDLT lost a beloved family member on April 20th with the passing of Kenneth Lupo. Kenneth’s wife, Farris, joined our PDLT staff in 2021 and like with all of our staff members, her husband, Kenneth, and two sons, Baze and Kash quickly became an intricate part of our PDLT family. Kenneth had an infectious grin, easy-going demeaner and a deep southern draw that made anyone who met him smile. He had a true heart of gold, never met a stranger, and was always the first to lend a helping hand. From parking cars at PDLT fundraisers, to fixing things around the office, feeding staff while working late nights in preparation for events, to helping out with a construction project at a staff member’s house, Kenneth was always the first to volunteer to help do whatever needed to be done to support PDLT and all of our staff. We often teased him that he was our best “paid” volunteer, as he loved the cookies from our fundraisers and we always sent him home with a container full!

Please Save-the-Date – June 2nd, 10:30am-3pm, for ‘A Meal that Means More - LUPO Chicken Bog’, at Holt Bros BBQ, 2081 W Evans St, Florence. The Holt Bros BBQ family is most generously donating 100% of proceeds to help Farris and her sons navigate life without him. See Pre-Order form for 10+ plates in photos below.

Kenneth’s Obituary - https://www.cookefuneral.com/obituaries/james-lupo

Celebrate Bike to Work Day by taking the scenic route. 🚴‍♀️

Choosing to ride not only supports your health, but also helps protect the natural spaces we all enjoy. Every ride is a step toward a healthier community and environment.

Come by and learn about conservation easements at today’s Flytrap Festival Conservation Fair with PDLT’s Land Conservation Steward, Dawson Francis!
P*e Dee Land Trust

Today is Palmetto Giving Day, and your gift to P*e Dee Land Trust goes twice as far.

A generous donor is matching every donation dollar for dollar through 6pm tomorrow night. That's double the impact for the land, waters, and natural places we work to protect across the P*e Dee Watershed.

New to PDLT? A donation today makes you a member for the year. Already a member but need to renew your membership? This is the perfect time to renew and double your support.

The match ends at midnight tomorrow night. Donate now: https://bit.ly/3SlLG5u
*eDeeLandTrust

PDLT was proud to participate last week in SC Land Trust Network’s lobby day – Land Legacy Leaders Day. More than 50 land trust staff and board, along with conservation easement landowners, gathered at the Statehouse to be recognized for their contributions to the state's quality of life and to thank local House and Senate members for their support of the legislation that is critical to our work.

PDLT’s Executive Director, Lyles Cooper, was honored to present Governor Henry McMaster the Palmetto Conservation Leadership Award on behalf of the SC Land Trust Network (Lyles currently serves as the Board Chairman for the SCLTN).

Read More: https://www.scltn.org/governor-mcmaster-honored-with-inaugural-palmetto-conservation-leadership-award