HATCHER GARDEN AND WOODLAND PRESERVE INC
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Mission Statement
Mission Statement: Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, Inc. exists to provide a place where the public can come for inspiration, enjoyment and education through the study of nature. Vision Statement: Our botanical garden aspires to be recognized regionally and indeed nationally, as a model and premier source of environmental education for children and adults and a haven of peace and beauty for the community and tourists alike.
About This Cause
Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve, a free botanical garden open daily in the heart of Spartanburg, has been nurtured for over 50 years by the community. This free public garden is truly remarkable because it began as one man's backyard garden which he enlarged over time, restoring eroded cotton fields behind his home to create his vision of a woodland garden. Harold Hatcher and his wife Josephine cultivated and expanded the garden, welcoming the public to visit, and as the garden grew, community volunteers of all ages became part of their dream, helping them to realize their vision. The Hatchers' work continued into the 1980s, and in 1987, when he was almost 80 years old, Hatcher gave the 10-acre garden permanent protection by donating it to the Spartanburg County Foundation for the benefit of the community. The Garden stands as a testament to the power of partnerships and to the integrity of the Hatchers' vision and the community that nurtured it. Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve strives to develop new community partnerships and offer new services to meet the needs of children, families and seniors, especially those mobility challenged, improving their quality of life. Community collaborative projects include an educational Water Wise Demonstration Garden, wider and gently sloped paved paths providing safe access from the Handicap and Bus Parking to the Garden Entrance and throughout the expanded 12-acre Garden, and ADA compliant restrooms with wheelchair accessible water fountain enabling disabled visitors to stay for longer visits in the beautiful tranquility of the woodland preserve. Hatcher Garden has appeal throughout the year with colorful flowers and trees, birds and wildlife, and inspirational areas for all ages of visitors as they enjoy the health and wellness benefits in the Garden. Visitors can enjoy 12 acres of greenspace in the center of the city, an area that provides a safe haven for birds, turtles, squirrels and other wildlife and for the more than 41,700 people who visit the garden each year. Surrounded by brilliantly colorful flowers and trees and the calming sounds of nature, the creek water flowing along rocky stream beds and the cascading waterfall, make this an inviting and tranquil escape from the daily chaos of the city. Marriage proposals, weddings, bridal and baby showers, birthday parties, graduations, school and family reunions, school field trips and summer camps for K-12 and college students, gardening continuing education classes, outdoor yoga and nature journaling classes, hospice and memorial services, and counseling and bereavement group and individual sessions take place in the Garden. The woodland garden has wheelchair accessible paths with a Butterfly Garden, Perennial Garden, Conifer Garden, Cypress Pond Garden, Water Wise Demonstration Garden, Hosta Garden, Wildflower Garden, Appalachian Mountain Garden and Bartram Trail: over 10,000 trees, shrubs and flowers indigenous to our region providing outdoor classrooms and places for quiet contemplation with water features throughout creating a peaceful feeling of rest and renewal. Last year over 3,500 school students from the region attended educational programs with trained Hatcher Garden volunteers teaching classes on a variety of subjects linked to the South Carolina State Standards for school teachers. A "Fit in the Garden" exercise routine developed for all ages by a local retirement community Wellness Coordinator is used daily by visitors. The physical and mental "nature exercises" can be done along the nearly two miles of paved paths in the garden. The services offered by Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve are aligned with our mission and the vision of Harold and Josephine Hatcher to improve the quality of life for community residents and garden visitors.