Lowcountry Land Trust celebrates grand opening of the Lowcountry Center for Conservation

A Mission-Driven Home for Collaboration, Education, and Conservation in the Heart of West Ashley at Mrs. Emily Ravenel Farrow’s former Ashem Form

Lowcountry Land Trust, a nonprofit committed to preserving Lowcountry landscapes and waterways for current and future generations, is proud to announce the grand opening of the Lowcountry Center for Conservation, its first-ever permanent headquarters that will also serve as a gathering place for partners, educators, and community members advancing conservation efforts across the region.

Located on the historic grounds of Ashem Farm in West Ashley, the Center for Conservation marks the culmination of a decades-long dream made possible by Mrs. Emily Ravenel Farrow, who bequeathed Ashem Farm—her home of nearly 100 years—to the Land Trust in the early 2000s. The Center fulfills her vision of a home for conservation that preserves the land’s historic and ecological integrity while welcoming the broader community. Her vision has not only shaped the Center but also the adjacent, brand-new Old Towne Creek County Park and will continue to influence public access and conservation efforts for generations.

The building was designed with sustainability and Southeastern heritage at its core. It incorporates reclaimed brick from a former structure on Charleston’s iconic King Street, preserved floor joists from the historic Richmond Academy in August, Georgia, and repurposed cypress offcuts for custom interior paneling. Native landscaping, featuring approximately 30 species, including magnolias, bald cypress, sabal palmetto, and beautyberry, grounds the Center in its natural surroundings. Meanwhile, original artwork by local artists such as Jim Booth, Mary Edna Fraser, and William Halsey honors the region’s cultural legacy.

Inside, the building’s flexible event and meeting spaces support the Center for Conservation’s broader purpose as a place for thought leadership, learning, and collaboration, including two dynamic gathering spaces. The Sam Carlton Room accommodates up to 80 seated or 150 standing guests and includes Zoom room technology, a catering kitchen, a screened porch, and a grass terrace. The High Point Conference Room seats 14 and includes a live-edge table, Zoom room technology, mini fridge, coffee machine, and access to a private porch. Both rentable spaces are ideal for convening conservation experts, community leaders, and supporters alike to find common ground and foster collaboration with a focus on positive outcomes for the Lowcountry.

Lowcountry Land Trust extends its deepest gratitude to the many generous supporters who helped bring the Center to life. The organization is especially grateful to those who have recognized the value of a space dedicated to conservation, collaboration, and community engagement with a leadership-level gift, including Martha Berry and Curtis Cravens; The Henry M. Blackmer Foundation; and Adelaide and Scott Wallinger. Generous gifts in-kind from GEL Engineering, LLC, Reggie Gibson Architects, Willis Hagood, Omni Partners, Surculus, Roycroft Floors, Patricia Dennis and Kent MacDougal, and PMC Commercial Interiors made critical aspects of the project possible. Through their visionary support, these donors have ensured that the Lowcountry Center for Conservation will be a resource for future generations.

“It’s only fitting that so many partners have come together to create this space meant for collaboration, innovation, and accelerating the pace of conservation,” said Catherine McCullough, chief advancement officer at Lowcountry Land Trust. “We are immensely grateful to those who have championed Mrs. Emily Ravenel Farrow’s vision for the Lowcountry Center for Conservation, which will strengthen the Land Trust’s mission to protect land and water forever, nurture relationships between people and place, and connect the community to conservation.”

Stay connected by following @LowcountryLandTrust on social media and signing up for their email newsletter to receive the latest updates on conservation efforts and ways to get involved.

ABOUT LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST

Lowcountry Land Trust—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization—permanently protects land throughout coastal South Carolina that is foundational to the area’s ecosystem and residents’ quality of life. Having protected over 163,000 acres since 1986, Lowcountry Land Trust is one of the most impactful land trusts in the country. Its work includes the stewardship of privately owned land and iconic public places, such as the future Angel Oak Preserve—a 44-acre passive park and living museum in partnership with the City of Charleston. More information about Lowcountry Land Trust is available at www.lowcountrylandtrust.org.