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Located in Thomas County, Georgia, Lost Creek Forest is a remnant example of old growth, climax hardwood forests and wetlands. For thousands of years such forests sloped down to the blackwater creeks in the coastal plains, while longleaf dominated the upland sandhills and flatwoods.  Saved from industrial development by a grassroots movement in 2008, Lost Creek Forest remains intact, protecting its many ecosystems of plants and animals and provides recreation, education, and research about our natural heritage.

Beth Grant is a retired mental health counselor and educator who has enjoyed many retirement years volunteering in numerous nature activities. She led the Save Our Forest movement in 2008 and served as President of Friends of Lost Creek Forest until spring of 2021.

From the Lost Creek Forest website:

“The forest is an intact climax hardwood forest. No other forests of this size with similar characteristics are known to exist in South Georgia. Lost Creek Forest is a wonderful combination of slope forest, seeps, floodplain, creeks, and several different ecosystems--all within walking distance of each other.

In the heart of the forest the canopy consists of mature hardwoods such as oaks and beech--some more than 100 years old and measuring 10 feet or more in circumference. Spruce pines tower well over 100 feet high. Magnolias, hickories, hop hornbeam, holly, sourwood, cherry, and other varieties of trees are found in abundance.

The under story of small trees and shrubs, as well as the smaller herbaceous plants and ground cover, are all representative of what would have been found in the forest for thousands of years. There is even one of the best populations anywhere of the endangered Florida Milkvine. Native wildlife find shelter and home there.”