Cloister Hotel / Frederica Golf Course

Project Details

In 2005, the Sea Island Company—of St. Simons Island, Georgia—undertook an extensive redevelopment project involving the relocation of over 900 mature, live oak trees, ranging from 22 to 70 inches in diameter. When a quarter of the first 400 trees died within six months of their initial transplant, the Sea Island Company contacted Treeworks, tasking our experts with assessing the transplant procedures in place. As a result of Treeworks’ involvement, protocols for digging, moving, planting, anchoring, and fertilizing were completely overhauled. A computerized irrigation system was designed, utilizing a total of 9,000 irrigation heads capable of delivering 27,000 gallons of water per minute. Our experts developed a custom fertilizer mixture, which is modified on a yearly basis in response to observed changes in soil and leaf tissue. Two staff members were dedicated to monitoring the moisture levels of all 900 trees on a weekly basis, and provided their readings to our Vermont office. The readings were were analyzed and compared to prior data to identify necessary adjustments.   

Treeworks’ involvement with the project is ongoing; our post transplant maintenance and management protocols are still in effect to this day. Our experts return to Sea Island twice a year to inspect the trees and perform any necessary maintenance. As a demonstration of the effectivenss our program over almost 20 years, none of the transplanted trees have been lost.

Client:

Sea Island Company

Location:

Sea Island and St Simons Island, Georgia

Services Provided:

• Develop Protocols for the Relocation of 1500 Mature Trees
• Develop fertilizer and pesticide protocols
• Oversee lightning protection systems in over 600 mature transplants
• Oversee Irrigation System and Watering Protocols for all Trees Transplanted
• Oversee and supply long term management of project.

Historical Note:

• Throughout the early 1900s, Howard Coffin—one of the founders of Hudson Motor Cars—purchased thousands of acres of land on Georgia’s “Long Island.” Rebranding the island, “Sea Island” in 1926, Coffin labored to develop the property, eventually constructing the renowned Cloister Hotel at Sea Island in 1928. The exclusive resort became a retreat for US Presidents, foreign heads of state, and both Southern and Northern gentry for decades. Above all else, these esteemed guests cherished the southern live oak trees of Sea Island.