Bull Point was recently certified as a Community Wildlife Habitat! As the 12th Certified Community Wildlife Habitat in our state, Bull Point has joined over 300 other communities across the nation making a difference for wildlife. Located in Seabrook and on the edge of the ACE basin, the Bull Point Community is located on a 750-acre peninsula nestled in the serene marshes of the Port Royal Sound. Along the long and winding roads lined with majestic moss-draped live oaks, the only signs of human life are mailboxes at the end of each home’s driveway. New homeowners are encouraged to keep their properties as natural as possible, staying away from clear-cutting and manicured lawns. The community has much to offer its residents, both human and animal, and is complete with freshwater lakes and ponds, a community cabin overlooking the sound, and private islands that offer relaxation and refuge.
“Bull Point is located in a sensitive area of fragile ecosystems, including a tidal creek and salt marshes within a maritime forest, and is part of a wildlife corridor between conservation areas. We feel that those of us who have chosen to live here have a responsibility to care for and protect this diverse and beautiful environment and are committed to remaining mindful of the effects of all our activities on the flora and fauna with which we share our home.”
Images from Bull Point Plantation Property Owner’s Association website
Bull Point was originally a part of the historic Tomotley Barony land grant of 1698, used as a hunting and fishing preserve for hundreds of years. In the 1990's, developer Robert (Bob) Wolfson and his partner, Stan Kirkland envisioned a community unlike any other as they discovered this maritime forest inundated with giant specimen live oaks and magnolias. On an unusually high elevation and surrounded by the marshes and tributaries of the Huspah Creek and located at the north end of the Port Royal Sound, Bull Point began with the guiding force being the preservation of its natural beauty and a conservation approach to residential-only development. This approach offers homeowners the opportunity to live in harmony with nature and enjoy complementing amenities that support native wildlife and habitat.
Images from Bull Point Plantation Property Owner’s Association website
The Clubhouse at Bull Point, with its stunning views of the Huspah Creek, recently hosted the South Carolina Wildlife Federation to celebrate Bull Point’s status as a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat. SCWF’s Habitat Education Manager, Savannah Jordan, spoke during the ceremony’s opening remarks and presented Jane Hearn of the Bull Point Sustainability Committee with the community’s framed certificate. Haig Point’s Community Wildlife Habitat team leader, Ellen Morton, recognized each resident in the community that certified their yard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat. Robert (Bob) Wolfson and his wife Leigh - the very first residents of Bull Point - were also in attendance, and Robert spoke about his vision to “keep nature as it was”, as he was also the first developer of Bull Point. This founding principle is what led the Bull Point Sustainability Committee to their goal of “keeping it wild”.
Images by Sandy Dimke
The 20-acre bird sanctuary is a preserved area in Bull Point that provides refuge for migratory birds and other native wildlife.
To reach eligibility as a Community Wildlife Habitat, the Bull Point Sustainability Committee worked systematically to create wildlife habitat throughout the community by ensuring that residential properties provided the four elements that all wildlife need to thrive and survive. Committee members have also held educational wildlife demonstrations and workshops about South Carolina’s local wildlife and how to protect their habitat. The community has helped its many bird species by installing nesting boxes for Eastern bluebirds and wood ducks, which also provides nesting sites for other birds like eastern screech owls and songbirds. The Sustainability Committee of Bull Point also has plans to enhance their nature trail and 20-acre bird sanctuary by removing invasive species and installing educational signage along the trail. Members of the habitat team have participated in community outreach by attending litter sweeps and exhibiting for SCWF at public events like the Pollinator Palooza in Charleston.
“To demonstrate our commitment to responsible stewardship of the land, water, air, and built environment, our committee diligently protects, preserves, and enhances Bull Point’s natural areas and ecosystems for the benefit of current and future generations. Moreover, we endeavor to maintain accessibility to nature for all individuals to enjoy in our communal areas.”