Earth Day is Monday, April 22. A day we devote to raising awareness about environmental issues and promote actions to protect our planet. The first Earth Day celebration was held on April 22, 1970, and the first Earth Day remains the largest single-day protest in human history. Now over 1 billion people in more than 193 countries across the globe participate in a wide range of coordinated events. This day also recognizes being outdoors in nature.
Did you know the federal government manages approximately 640 million acres of public land in the United States? That translates to about 28% of the nation’s 2.27 billion acres! Multiple government agencies work together to protect natures landscapes, the wildlife that live there and America’s outdoor heritage. The agencies involved include:
• Bureau of Land Management
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• National Park Service (under the Department of the Interior)
• U.S. Forest Service (under the Department of Agriculture)
South Carolina has more than 90,000 acres of protected land stretching from the Blue Ridge mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. South Carolina parks have the most inviting natural, cultural, and recreational destinations in the country.
Whether you like camping, birding, geocaching, hiking, learning about nature or just enjoying a great picnic, locally, we have multiple choices to get outside:
Lynches Wood is a 276-acre park full of large pines and old-growth hardwoods and contains 5 miles of moderate challenging hiking, biking, and equestrian trails which take about 1 hr 45 minutes to complete. Rocky Branch Creek flows through several sections of the park providing a tranquil experience for those who venture the trails. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash. Picnic Shelters available. Open Year round.
The Sumter National Forest covers 56,595 acres in Newberry County. Hunting, fishing, primitive camping, nature trails, birdwatching, equestrian trails, picnicking, and boating are among the many activities enjoyed in this natural resource.
Lake Greenwood, located along Newberry County’s southwestern border, Lake Greenwood is an 11,400-acre man-made lake. With 200 miles of shoreline, Lake Greenwood offers boating, skiing, fishing, picnicking, and camping.
Dreher Island State Park is located on Lake Murray, Dreher Island State Park consists of three islands linked to shore by a causeway and two bridges. Dreher Island has a 2-mile hiking trail, fishing, picnicking, camping and lakeside villas.
With all these options, where will you go to celebrate Earth Day? Please remember to leave things better than when you got there, pick up your trash, recycle cans and bottles.
Newberry Soil & Water Conservation District and Keep Newberry County Beautiful invite you to participate in our event by attending a local cleanup. We will be in Whitmire, SC for the Town Cleanup. We will be set up April 22 at the Whitmire Community Center starting at 8:30am. We will provide cleanup supplies and assign streets in town that need a little extra attention. Bring your neighbors, make new friends, and get outside.
You can reach Crista at (803) 597-3160 or email : Newberrysoilandwater@gmail.com
