Promoting conversation and preservation
Founders Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington were environmental conservationists from the beginning. The over 9000 acres of property ranging from salt marshes to longleaf pine, mixed hardwood, and river bluff forests are part of nature preserve areas that protect over 2,000 species of native plants and a variety of other wildlife, including wild turkeys, fox squirrels, and a multitude of songbirds.
We also actively maintain the longleaf pine forests in the wildlife and nature preserve areas through prescribed burning, which is necessary to the health of the forest and to provide habitats for the endangered Red-cockaded woodpecker.
Mr. Huntington designed the ponds and pools in the gardens to connect to the Waccamaw River for natural drainage and irrigation promoting water conservation and recycling.
Our Lowcountry Zoo and Floyd Family Farm exhibit are involved in conserving and preserving threatened wildlife and historically significant domestic animal species.
The Lowcountry Zoo and Horticulture Departments work together to compost animal manure into rich soil for our gardens and reduce animal waste run-off.