As McAlhany nears its 40th anniversary, October 13th 2027, we continue to manage, preserve, update, and improve this wondrous preserve. We look forward to celebrating this momentous occasion with members, friends, supporters, neighbors, allies, and members of the Marvin McAlhany family for whom the preserve is named.
Charleston Natural History Society (CNHS) manages the McAlhany Nature Preserve. A beautiful 367 acre property located on the Edisto River near St. George, SC, McAlhany was donated to the Charleston Natural History Society (CNHS) in 1986 and it was dedicated as a nature preserve in honor of Marvin McAlhany on January 18th, 1987. CNHS, in an ongoing effort to understand this preserve’s role in the surrounding landscape, conducts ongoing biological surveys (BioBlitz), hosts numerous organizations (and individuals) who are conducting environmental research, and has regular working field trips to the site. The preserve also hosts chapter barbecues, nature walks, and with prior approval over night stays.
In order to ensure that McAlhany remains undeveloped, CNHS entered a conservation easement agreement with the Lowcountry Open Land Trust on December 19, 2001. Over the past several years the chapter has renewed its commitment to the management of the preserve. Restorative fixes have been made not only top the landscape but also the the structure of the existing cabin on the property. Those restorations, thanks to the leadership efforts of Joe Cockrell, will ensure that the structure remains serviceable for researchers use far into the future.
For a relatively small piece of land it includes an incredibly diverse array of habitats, beginning with 1.5 miles of frontage on the Edisto River and a nine-acre oxbow lake. Some other notable features include: a mixed Mesophytic hardwood bluff (great for spring wildflowers); a beech, magnolia and spruce pine hammock – a possibly unique plant association; upland oak-hickory forest; bottomland hardwoods forest (including many acres along Cattle Creek); freshwater marsh; a low water limestone outcrop; and of course the cabin and picnic area near the lake.
There is a major long-term longleaf pine and native grass restoration project in progress in old field area across Wire Road, and members have begun to make improvements to the trail system (and hope to add new trails in the future).
Download a PDF of the ongoing species list — part of our continuing efforts to document the flora and fauna of the preserve. (rev 04/09/14)
Download a map and driving directions to the McAlhany Nature Preserve
Charleston Natural History Society 