A Gathering on the Grasslands at B.W. Wells Savannah
More than twenty years ago, a group of botanists came together to help the Coastal Land Trust purchase and conserve 117 acres of land along Pelham Road in Pender County. The property, now 177 acres and called the B.W. Wells Savannah Preserve, hosts two small open grassland habitats that had been perpetuated for many years by mowing underneath power line right of way. Since the purchase in 2002, the Coastal Land Trust has worked to restore even more open savannah habitat on the preserve through prescribed burning, occasional timbering, and additional mowing. Opening up the ground to sunlight awakens native seeds that have lain dormant underneath larger shrubs and trees, and beautiful meadows emerge. In fact, these savannahs support a profusion of more than 200 documented species of wildflowers including orchids, carnivorous plants, and some rarities.
In October 2022, the same botanists that championed the site’s protection gathered at the B.W. Wells Savannah to provide input on the ongoing restoration work. Richard LeBlond, retired botanist with the N. C. Natural Heritage Program who discovered the meadow under the power lines, gave the Coastal Land Trust 5 out of 5 stars for our efforts. Donna Wright, Jon Stucky, and Tom Wentworth, retired professor N. C. State University Botany Department provided helpful recommendations on further restoration and botanical inventory work. Linda Pearsall (retired), Scott Pohlman, and Misty Buchanan of the N. C. Natural Heritage Program cheered on the prescribed burning. The Coastal Land Trust’s forestry consultant, Tim Tabak, along with Charlie Marshburn of Tri-State Land and Timber, LLC were there to hear the feedback and further learn the importance of the savannah.
It was a great fall day to gather on the grassland—crisp air, blue skies, purple and gold flowers—to reminisce about the successful conservation campaign, to reconnect with old friends and colleagues, and to be awed by nature.
