The St. Simons Land Trust began enhancing John Gilbert Nature Trail and Old Ironsides properties in 2025 with the goals of improving wildlife habitat, creating attractive native landscapes, and reducing long-term maintenance needs. However, we recognize that these properties currently appear more unkempt than intended, and we appreciate the concern shared by many in the community.
Both properties looked beautiful following the initial installation, thanks to the wonderful designs by Verdant Enterprises and the installation work by Coastal Greenery. The Land Trust agreed to take on the ongoing maintenance for these exciting projects with the expectation that they would require only occasional staff and volunteer support as the native plantings became established.
We have since learned that the early maintenance needs for these projects are much greater than anticipated. Native habitat enhancement projects typically take a couple of years to fully establish, during which time the desired plants become strong enough to better compete with weedy vegetation. While our staff and dedicated volunteers have been assisting with weeding and upkeep, we have decided that additional steps are needed to bring these properties back to the standard we originally envisioned.
In the coming months, you will notice the following work taking place:
- Staff and volunteers will continue weeding and reshaping the native grass beds through hand-pulling, weed whacking, and the careful use of appropriate herbicides where needed.
- Additional grasses and native plants will be installed to fill in the planting beds and help reduce weed competition.
- Watering will continue during dry periods.
- Plant identification signs will be installed to help share information about the native species on the properties.
- Additional maintenance support will be brought in to assist staff and volunteers.
The Land Trust remains committed to ensuring that our properties are enjoyable, safe, and beneficial for wildlife. We are excited to continue improving these projects and look forward to watching the native plants become more fully established in the months ahead.