The Dorchester County Greenbelt Program was approved by County Council in May 2024, through the Dorchester County Greenbelt Master Plan. This initiative aims to safeguard, acquire, and enhance green spaces and recreational areas within the County.

Individuals or organizations interested in accessing Dorchester County Greenbelt funding for these purposes are required to complete an application, which is reviewed by the Conservation and Greenbelt Advisory Commission and then approved or denied by County Council.

Below are the currently funded projects through the Dorchester County Greenbelt Program:

Barry Tract

• Includes 67 acres of woodlands, wetlands, tidal streams, and trails in the Ashley River Historic District; 31 of which are coastal wetlands
• Has a coastal fringe maritime habitat, which is rare across the Southeast
• Supports migratory birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles
• Located within the Ashley River Blue Trail and Ashley River Heritage Trail
• Contains remnants of an 18th-century settlement of enslaved people, later reoccupied by phosphate workers in the 19th century, further deepening the property’s historical and cultural significance
• Originally acquired by the Lowcountry Land Trust; closing to occur in December 2025.
• Funding from the South Carolina Conservation Bank, Atlantic Packaging/Ka Foundation, the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant, and The Dorchester Trust Foundation.

Future Plans for the Site: Passive Public Park, operated by Dorchester County Government

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Beech Hill Tract

• Includes 1,644-acre timber tract located between the Edisto River Wildlife Management Area and Givhans Ferry State Park
• Considered a conservation priority because of its location between these protected areas and intensifying development pressure
• Originally acquired by The Open Space Institute; closing occurred in May 2025.
• Funding from the South Carolina Forestry Commission, South Carolina Conservation Bank, and Dorchester County Government’s Greenbelt Program

Future Plans for the Site: To become a South Carolina State Forest, which will be operated by the South Carolina Forestry Commission and allow for public access, with opportunities for wildlife viewing, hunting, hiking, and biking.  This will be the sixth State forest in the State and the first in Dorchester County.  

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Knight Tract

• Includes 265 acres, located between the 13,000+ acres of protected land at Norfolk Southern's Brosnan Forest and more than 12,300 contiguous protected acres within and surrounding Four Hole Swamp and Audubon South Carolina’s Beidler Forest
• Features portions of Walnut and Coldwater Branches, two significant tributaries that ultimately feed into the Edisto River
• Originally acquired by the Lowcountry Land Trust; closing occurred in October 2025.
• Funding from Dorchester County Government’s Greenbelt Program and the South Carolina Conservation Bank, Audubon South Carolina, and Norfolk Southern

Future Plans for the Site: Passive Public Park, operated by Dorchester County Government

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Limehouse Tract

• Direct fee simple purchase by the County
• The Limehouse Tract 102.88-acre property is located along the Ashley Scenic River in the vicinity of Dorchester Road and Bacons Bridge Road. This tract allows the potential for the County's other property, Ashley River Park, to be expanded to the northern end. The Limehouse Tract will be open to the public, which will allow for wildlife viewing, hiking, kayaking, and fishing while maintaining the ecological integrity of the property.
• Funding from Dorchester County Government’s Greenbelt Program and South Carolina Conservation Bank.

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Young's Farm

• 225-acre working agricultural property located just outside the Town of St. George
• The first conservation easement in the County was supported by funding from both the South Carolina Conservation Bank and the Dorchester County Greenbelt Program.
• Helps sustain the region’s agricultural heritage through a long-standing partnership with a large-scale local farmer. The farmer cultivates crops such as cotton, soybeans, and corn, which contribute to the broader agricultural economy, and produces oat hay specifically for the Youngs’ beloved llamas. By maintaining access to productive, high-quality soils, this easement supports the ongoing viability of agriculture in Dorchester County.
• Connects with a major restoration project within Polk Swamp, a once-thriving cypress and tupelo swamp that was severely impacted by Hurricane Hugo. This restoration project will be led by Dorchester County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• Supported by the Lowcountry Land Trust