The St. Simons Land Trust (SSLT) is honored to announce a partnership with Golden Isles Fund for Trees (GIFT) to help protect the 300+ year old registered live oak “Old Ironsides” and several other trees standing at 2404 Frederica Road. This stately live oak was registered by GIFT with the Live Oak Society in December 2021 with a documented girth of twenty-seven feet and approximate age of 307 years.
The property’s central island location along Frederica Road, where Old Ironsides has added to the canopy and beauty of St. Simons all these years was slated for a multi-home development. An outpouring of concern flooded into the Land Trust, with island residents seeking assistance in limiting the scope of the development and saving the trees.
In response, SSLT is negotiating to purchase the front part of this property that runs parallel to the bike path along Frederica Road. This acquisition will reduce the size of the planned development, allowing one new home only (instead of three) and saving Old Ironsides and the other live oaks on the property.Once the property is secured and the existing house is razed, the Land Trust will landscape with native plants and work to connect esthetically this property to the other greenspaces along Frederica Road, such as that in front of the north side of Wildlife Preserve and the John Gilbert Nature Trail.
Old Ironsides
To help support this acquisition, the board members at GIFT have generously offered the Land Trust a $25,000 CHALLENGE MATCH. When voting to provide this match, GIFT board member Chris Curry said, “I can’t think of a better use of money. I measured that tree and it’s utterly magnificent, so my vote is absolutely yes.”
This challenge means that each gift from the community will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000,securing $50,000 to help the Land Trust acquire the property and protect and maintain these majestic trees in perpetuity.
“One of the major reasons vacationers visit St. Simons, and why so many of us choose to live and work on the island, is because of the canopy created by trees such as those at 2404 Frederica Road. It behooves us all to do everything we can to support zoning restrictions, talk with our elected officials, and partner with developers whenever possible to limit the conversion of single-family homesites to multi-home developments,” said Land Trust Executive Director Emily Ellison. “Not only is the live oak canopy one of the primary aspects that enhances quality of life on St. Simons, but the trees – and the greenspaces those trees help to create – are critical economic drivers. Threats to the island’s character are the seeds that will eventually threaten its financial future. We hope that you will take advantage of this partnership between GIFT and the Land Trust and participate in this extraordinary challenge grant. In the meantime, sincerest thanks to GIFT and its board of directors and to those community members who have already pledged support.”
Contributions can be made online at sslt.org, or by stopping in at the Land Trust's office at 1810 Frederica Road with a check or credit card or by mailing your gift to P.O. Box 24615, St. Simons Island, GA, 31522. Please be sure to note that your contribution is for the $25,000 Old Ironsides Challenge.
UPDATE: YOU DID IT! In less than one week, the matching challenge of $25,000 from GIFT was met AND EXCEEDED! More than 120 donors contributed $50,000+, meaning that together with the GIFT matching funds, more than $75,000 has been secured to help the Land Trust acquire the front lot and protect and maintain these majestic trees in perpetuity. The Land Trust is thrilled and grateful that "Old Ironsides" and the other trees on the property will continue to be part of the island's tree canopy and can be enjoyed by everyone who walks, bikes, or drives down the Frederica Greenway.
