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Land Conservation Highlights | Places to Visit | Waterways | Farmland | Springer's Point
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| Places to Visit |
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 The Coastal Land Trust makes a concerted effort to increase the opportunity for public access to some of the most beautiful places in coastal North Carolina. We often partner with public agencies to set aside unique landscapes, natural areas, and water access points. We also manage a few preserves of our own including Springer's Point, B.W. Wells Savannah, and Sea Gate Woods. Below, you will find information about a select few public spaces that the Coastal Land Trust was instrumental in protecting.
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| Springer's Point |
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The jewel of the Outer Banks, Springer's Point is a prime illustration of the Coastal Land Trust's work in the Northeast. We are proud to offer the citizens of North Carolina an opportunity to explore and enjoy this wonderful and magical place.
Please visit the Springer's Point Preserve page for more information.
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| B. W. Wells Savannah |
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 This 117-acre Preserve, located in Pender County, was purchased in 2002 as the result of the Coastal Land Trust's first capital campaign. The Coastal Land Trust dedicated the site to Dr. Bertram W. Wells, the late pioneer ecologist from NCSU and author of "The Natural Gardens of North Carolina" because of his research contributions associated with the now extirpated Big Savannah located a few miles south of this tract. The B.W. Wells Savannah, referred to as the Ghost of Big Savannah, is host to over 170 native plant species including several rarities. The Coastal Land Trust is in the process of restoring more of the rare savannah habitat and has initiated a prescribed burn program with grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the N.C. Wildflower Preservation Society and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Coastal Land Trust sponsors an annual Wildflower Walk in the month of June. Please contact our Wilmington office for details.
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| Sea Gate Woods |
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 Acquired from the Weyerhaeuser Company in 2005, after many years of collaboration and fundraising, this 123 acre preserve is located in Carteret County and is only open to the public through scheduled field trips. This property is considered to be a regionally significant natural heritage site and represents a rare wetland community type called a non-riverine wet hardwood forest. This property hosts a wide variety of plant and animal species, and provides critical feeding and nesting areas for more than 25 species of neotropical migrant songbirds.
The Coastal Land Trust occasionally hosts birding trips to this preserve. If you are interested in joining us on one of our birding trips, please contact us.
You can also learn more about Sea Gate Woods by downloading our brochure
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| Airlie Gardens |
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 The gardens were created in the early 1900s as a private garden for the Pembroke Jones family, and planted with thousands of azaleas, camellias, magnolias, and wisteria. In 1999 New Hanover County purchased the gardens for public use. The NC Coastal Land Trust assisted the county by retaining a portion of the purchasing funds through a County Tidal Creeks Grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund.
More information about Airlie Gardens can be found here.
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| Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve |
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 This 64-acre tract of land was purchased by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 1991 from Mr. Troy Henry. In 2005, the NC Coastal Land Trust developed a conservation agreement for the property that will protect its natural and scenic values in perpetuity. The nature park's name was derived from a combination of the names "Evans" and "Henry" which are Mr. Henry's maternal and paternal family names. Its pronunciation sounds like "heaven-wood".
More information about the Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve can be found here.
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| Holly Shelter Game Lands |
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 This land exhibits excellent examples of low pocosin, wiregrass uplands, and bald cypress swamps. It is contiguous with the Holly Shelter Game Lands which are owned and managed by the state of North Carolina. Located along the upper reaches of Shelter Creek, these lands are strategically located to help protect water quality and wildlife habitat of the Northeast Cape Fear River watershed.
Photo by Jeffrey S. Pippen
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| Oakhurst Nature Park |
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 The Coastal Land Trust partnered with Onslow County in 2001 to protect 250 acres of land along the New River and the Blue Creek tributary. In May of 2004, Oakhurst nature Park was officially opened to the public. The park hosts two short nature trails and a canoe/kayak launch area.
More information about Oakhurst Nature Park can be found here.
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