West Of Free Press — December 2022 - Flipbook - Page 12
Dungannon Plantation
Heritage Reserve
We should all explore nature with the wonderment of a child
I
grew up in the Lake District of northwest
England, an ancient land of majestic
mountain peaks, enchanting lakes, and
picture-postcard villages. Lush green
valleys are home to farms passed down
through countless generations. Our
neolithic ancestors built stone circles here
- perhaps calendars, almanacs, or sacred
temples, now places of myth and magic.
It’s a stunningly beautiful region which
people travel from all around the world to
visit.
When I was a child, my mom would drag
me kicking and screaming through these
pristine landscapes in an effort to instill an
appreciation for the natural beauty of our
home country. As lambs frolicked in the
fields, and damselflies flitted around the
edges of lakes, iridescent in the sunlight,
I was yelling at the top of my voice that I
was bored, tired, and wanted to go home.
She could pacify me temporarily by finding
a large stick with which I could whack tree
trunks and practice my swordsmanship.
She would try to distract me by pointing out
kestrels hovering in the air, or tiny lizards
sunning themselves on a drystone wall.
Only the promise of an ice cream cone at
the end of the hike sparked any interest
in me. I’m sure I spoiled many enjoyable
afternoons for my family and every other
hiker along the same route.
Despite my tantrums and protestations,
those experiences planted a seed that
would grow into deep appreciation and
reverence for the outdoors and the cultural
heritage that each site holds. Now every
lakeside path or woodland trail conjures
a sense of amazement and wonder,
and a feeling that can most eloquently
be described as... warm fuzzies. I truly
relish reading about other people’s love
of nature and their experiences in the
wild. I’m currently enjoying the latest book
from actor and comedian Nick Offerman;
Where The Deer and Antelope Play. It’s a
humorous account of his love of nature,
both magnificent and mundane. In it, he
even visits my childhood home of the Lake
District. Like me, he was exposed to the
natural world as a child and has returned
to it in awe as an adult.
On a recent visit to Dungannon
Plantation Heritage Reserve in Hollywood,
it was a remarkable treat to meet fiveyear-old August and his parents. We got
to chatting and walked the entire trail
together. They too were a local family who
captured every opportunity they could to
be outdoors. It was obvious, the spark it lit
in their son. Even at his young age, August
could identify several types of fungus,
name each variety of bird we saw and
delighted in gently capturing insects to
examine and show his parents. He was
clearly at home among the trees. What
my mother would have given for such
enthusiasm!
Like many local attractions, Dungannon
was once home to a rice plantation, but the
600-acre site is now managed by the South
Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
The preserve offers an easy out-and-back
hiking and biking trail through attractive
woodlands and wetlands full of wildflowers
and birds. The main trail culminates in a
boardwalk out to a scenic open area and
pond which is home to a large rookery of
endangered wood storks. Thanks to places
like this, the wood storks are making a
comeback, although this was the wrong time
of year to see them (try for spring and early
summer). Meanwhile, the trees were vivid
with fall colors on full display, exploding
like red and orange fireworks throughout
the forest. There are also plenty of other
birds and wildlife to see, so regardless of
what time of year you visit, a camera or
binoculars are a must.
I hold firm to one of the most important
points Offerman makes in his latest book—
that stunning natural beauty can be found
almost anywhere. You don’t have to live on
the edge of Yosemite or hike to the top of
Denali to find it. We have it right here in
Charleston County. You don’t have to be an
elite athlete or rugged survivalist to enjoy
time in pristine wilderness. It’s accessible
to pretty much anyone regardless of
means, background, or physical prowess.
We don’t all have to be Bear Grylls.
Young August played a game with
us on the trail at Dungannon. He would
conceal something in his hands and ask
us to guess what it was. Sometimes it was
an acorn or a piece of moss. Sometimes
a pebble or a tiny beetle. His wonder and
fascination were boundless. Even though
it lies 4,000 miles away, our walk with
August through Dungannon transported
me back to the Lake District. Perhaps I
appreciated those childhood hikes more
than I remembered.
28
Where: Dungannon Plantation Heritage
Reserve
Cost: Free
Distance from the Coburg Cow: 13.9 miles
Pairs well with: A five-year-old tour guide
and naturalist
Aaron O’Brien is a native of Great Britain.
He and his wife Christina make up local
duo Oh Valentino. When they’re not
performing, you can find them exploring
local attractions and outdoor spaces.