Aiken Land Conservancy

09/03/2026

During last week's monitoring visit, ALC Stewardship Coordinator, Riley Telkamp and Administrative Assistant, Ashley Blankenbeckler, spent time exploring the property and documenting some of the natural life found along the way. 🌿🦋

Shaws Creek runs through the property, adding to its rich natural habitat. Ashley even took a moment to sit on a log and simply enjoy the sights and sounds of nature—the frogs were jumping and the water was flowing through the creek. We also spotted a skipper butterfly and a striking swamp tupelo along the way.

Monitoring visits are an important part of our stewardship work, giving us the opportunity to keep a close eye on the lands we help protect while appreciating the plants, wildlife, and natural features that make each property unique.

09/01/2026

Aiken Land Conservancy (ALC) would like to recognize our newest volunteer, Patti Bennett, for her outstanding contributions and dedication to land conservation. With a background in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) from her work at the Savannah River Site, Patti has generously shared her time and expertise with ALC since early May. She has supported several outreach initiatives, including researching and compiling a comprehensive landowner database for ALC's four Strategic Focal Areas. Her work has helped us connect with more than 100 landowners in the Savannah River and Highway 302/78 corridors to share information about the benefits and lasting impact of conservation easements.

Patti also created an ArcGIS StoryMap, an interactive online map that is featured on our website to provide visitors with quick, detailed overviews of ALC's publicly accessible properties. Later this fall, she will help remap the hiking and biking trails at Langley Pond Park, Boyd Pond Park, and Parkman Reserve.

Thank you, Patti, for sharing your time and talents to help advance land conservation in Aiken County. We're so grateful for the expertise and enthusiasm you bring to ALC.

09/01/2026

🎥 Take a few minutes to watch this short video highlighting the City of Aiken, South Carolina Government’s recent Achievement Award for its work to protect Shaws Creek Preserve in partnership with Aiken Land Conservancy.

We’re proud to have been part of this important conservation effort and are grateful to the City of Aiken for its commitment to protecting this special place for our community.

Watch the video to learn more about the project and the partnership behind it!

https://www.masc.sc/achievement-award/2026/public-works-category-city-aiken-shaws-creek-preserve-0.

As with many cities in a fast-growing state, Aiken has faced development that puts pressure on its infrastructure and its existing community character.

08/28/2026

Do you remember what it was like to be outside as a kid? Laughing, playing, running through the yard, looking for fireflies, or stopping to investigate a bug you’d never seen before.

Attendees of our first Stewardship Shelf book club sure do. Those childhood memories, and the sense of wonder and curiosity that comes with spending time outside, were just some of the lighthearted and meaningful conversations that came up during our discussion.

While enjoying coffee and pastries provided by The Parlour Coffee & Company, we discussed this month’s book, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. One thing that stood out in the conversation was how our experiences in nature can become a core part of our memories and even our sense of home. That sense of wonder and curiosity doesn't have to end with childhood, we can still find it as adults if we spend time in nature.

Did you miss our first Stewardship Shelf meeting? Don’t worry! You can join us for the next one on Saturday, October 10. Keep an eye on our events page for more details.

What’s one of your favorite memories of spending time outside as a kid?

08/27/2026

Conservation is for the birds 🐦

When we conserve land, we’re protecting much more than trees, fields, and open space. We’re protecting habitat for the birds and wildlife that depend on these places.

Prescribed fire, careful forest management, and even artificial nesting cavities for the red-cockaded woodpecker are all part of the work of restoring healthy longleaf habitat.

That’s one of the many reasons land conservation matters; when we protect the land, we protect the wildlife that calls it home.

08/25/2026

🌿 Explore Aiken's protected lands in a whole new way!

Aiken Land Conservancy's new interactive StoryMap makes it easy to explore the public properties we help protect, learn more about these special places, and see where you can go to enjoy the outdoors.

From forests and trails to ponds and open spaces, each property has its own story to tell.

🗺️ Start exploring: https://arc

The StoryMap was created by Patti Bennett, an ALC volunteer. ALC is grateful to have amazing volunteers like Patti who share their talents with us!

Explore Some of the Places You Love

08/20/2026

If you're a conservation enthusiast like us, tune in to SC Public Radio weekdays at 𝟓:𝟒𝟐 𝐚.𝐦., 𝟕:𝟒𝟐 𝐚.𝐦., or 𝟏𝟐:𝟒𝟐 𝐩.𝐦. for a one-minute segment of 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅!

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Director 𝐃𝐫. 𝐓𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐧 takes a closer look at the natural wonders around us and the people working to protect them.

One recent segment highlights the important role of prescribed fire in maintaining healthy forests and wildlife habitat, a topic that hits close to home for those of us working to conserve and care for South Carolina's special places. 🔥

𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅 is also available on demand wherever you listen to podcasts.

The story of South Carolina can be found in its rivers, forests, wetlands, and wildlife. Join Dr. Tom Mullikin, director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, on Into the Wild for a closer look at the natural wonders around us and the people working to preserve them.

08/19/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭, 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐯𝐞.

Not sure if that coo-AHH, cooo, coo, cooo you hear is an owl or a mourning dove? Next time you hear it, try using Merlin Bird ID, Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s free bird identification app, to listen and find out what’s singing nearby.

Protecting the open spaces, fields, and woodland edges they call home helps ensure these familiar birds remain part of our landscape.

This beautiful photograph was taken by Phil Jones.