The Greenspace Conservancy and the Horse Pasture

by Thad Peterson

With the recent explosion of new home construction on Seabrook, nearly every available property on the island now has a home on it and very few lots are open, build-out is near. 

Fortunately, in 1999, three Seabrookers – Bob Guifredda, Executive Director of Seabrook Island Property Association (SIPOA), Ray Myles, Past President of SIPOA, and Sue Holloman, President of SIPOA – met to discuss growing concerns about protecting the island’s environmental character. Thanks to their vision, the Conservancy has been able to preserve some beautiful areas of our island in perpetuity. 

Not too many people know that one of the early acquisitions was the horse pasture near the gate, and it’s a good example of how a few people with vision can really change our world for the better. 

From the early days of the Conservancy, the horse pasture just inside the Seabrook Island gate was identified as a priority for preservation. The pasture was privately owned by a company who planned to develop the property, and the Conservancy felt that any construction on the property would detract from the beauty of the entry to the island. In 2007, the Conservancy Board entered into negotiations to purchase the property, the owner accepted a contingency offer for the entire 5.89 acres, and they were willing to partially finance the purchase. This left the Conservancy with a big debt to cover. After a successful fall Conservancy Gala and a separate “Preserve the Pasture” campaign that included the sale of “deeds” to one-inch squares of the pasture that made purchasers “owners” of the pasture, the

property closed on December 19, 2007, and the remaining shortfall was made up by a private loan from a Conservancy supporter. Another large, visible property was kept open and green. The “Preserve the Pasture” campaign was also important in that it helped to raise awareness of the Conservancy and its mission and resulted in a large number of first-time contributors. 

Thanks to the vision of a few citizens of Seabrook, we have a beautiful entrance to our island that will remain beautiful.