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VOF’s first project in Petersburg helps effort to build Appomattox River Trail

VOF’s first project in Petersburg helps effort to build Appomattox River Trail
A stretch of the Appomattox River Trail that runs through the property will be permanently accessible to the public.

The Virginia Outdoors Foundation recently completed its first conservation project in the City of Petersburg—an open-space easement on 4.8 acres owned by Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR).

FOLAR’s acquisition is a critical component in the development of the Appomattox River Trail. When completed, the trail will be over 25 miles in length, connecting a rich diversity of historical, cultural, and physiographic areas, stretching from Lake Chesdin in the Piedmont to the James River in the Coastal Plain, where it will connect to historic City Point National Park in the City of Hopewell.

One of several new access points on the Appomattox River created by the FOLAR project.

The acquisition and easement were supported by a $159,000 grant from VOF’s Preservation Trust Fund. The easement requires that the property be permanently accessible to the public for outdoor recreation and education.

“We are thrilled to be a partner in this visionary project, which will provide thousands of citizens with new opportunities to connect to the Appomattox River and nature,” said VOF Executive Director Brett Glymph. “It represents the kind of community-driven conservation that VOF is proud to support.”

The dotted line along the south bank of the river between Battersea and McKenzie Street Park will become a solid line thanks to this project. Across the river is Virginia State University.

“FOLAR is dedicated to conserving and protecting the Appomattox River for all to enjoy,” said Wendy Austin, FOLAR’s Executive Director, “We were very glad to make this happen.”

With its new protected status, the property contributes to several state and local conservation programs. It contains approximately 1,742 feet of shoreline on the Appomattox River, a state-designated scenic river. The Appomattox River Trail is a Regional Featured Project in the 2018 Virginia Outdoors Plan prepared by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Located within the North Battersea/Pride’s Field National Historic District, the property is also identified as a priority site in the Commonwealth’s ConserveVirginia project under the Cultural and Historic Preservation and Scenic Preservation categories.

FOLAR will use the VOF grant and other funding to make improvements to the property and trail system before conveying the land to the City of Petersburg.

Remnants of arches believed to be connected to an old mill are among the few structures left on the property.

Once completed, the Appomattox River Trail will leverage the growth of the outdoor recreation industry and its beneficial impact on health and wellness in the metro-Richmond region, creating connections between hundreds of miles of regional trail, including the Virginia Capital Trail, James River Park system, the East Coast Greenway, and the proposed Ashland-to-Petersburg trail.

Learn more about the Appomattox River Trail project at https://folar-va.org/projects/appomattox-river-trail-and-signage-master-plan/.

Virginia Tech researchers seek landowner help with Gray Fox Project

Virginia Tech researchers seek landowner help with Gray Fox Project
Gray fox in Back Back National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Gray fox populations across North America have been declining over the last two decades. There are no published studies on gray fox population status in Virginia, but researchers, biologists, naturalists, hunters, and trappers from the state have noted, anecdotally, a decline in sightings, vocalizations, and camera trap photos over the last decade.

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is funding the Virginia Gray Fox Project, which is being conducted by Dr. Marcella Kelly and Ph.D. student Victoria Monette of Virginia Tech. The primary goal of this project is to map the current distribution of gray fox across the state of Virginia and to assess the evidence for decline using past, historical camera trapping from around the state. To accomplish this, the researchers will conduct a state-wide camera trapping survey. They are looking to survey areas where foxes are and are not found, and cover a variety of habitat types (suburban, urban, forest, pasture, etc.).

To conduct such a large-scale survey, the researchers are hoping to enlist the help of volunteers that:

  • Have existing trail cameras on their own property, or
  • Are willing to set and monitor project cameras (if available) on their own property, or
  • Are willing to allow the researchers access to their land to set up additional cameras.

Volunteers will be expected to set the cameras according to specific protocols to standardize data collection and will need to check cameras periodically (every two weeks) to ensure sufficient battery life and proper camera function. The camera survey will cover the state over the course of three years. For the 2024 field season (spring, summer, and fall) the project is focusing on the Appalachian Mountain region.

If interested in participating in assisting the Virginia Gray Fox Project, please email Victoria Monette at vmonette@vt.edu or leave a voicemail with Dr. Kelly at 540-231-1734.

VOF, Enviva partner to conserve 2,808 acres in Greensville County

VOF, Enviva partner to conserve 2,808 acres in Greensville County
High-qualify forest and wetland habitat are the key resources protected by the VOF easement.

In a landmark conservation effort, 2,808 acres of Pierce’s Low Grounds in Greensville County have been permanently protected, securing a vital ecological asset for future generations. The property, recognized by the Virginia Department of Forestry with a high-ranking in “Forest Conservation Value,” is now protected from development, thanks to collaborative efforts and strategic partnerships.

The conservation initiative was made possible in part through a $50,000 grant provided by the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund (EFCF), a $650,000 grant from the Virginia Land Conservation Fund, and a $600,000 grant from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. This project exemplifies the power of partnerships in advancing conservation goals.

Key Features of Pierce’s Low Grounds:

  1. Ecological Significance: The Property, identified as part of the Virginia Piedmont Forest Block complex (Important Bird Area), boasts significant ecological importance. It houses diverse habitats crucial for the sustenance of various species.
  2. River Frontage: Pierce’s Low Grounds contains approximately 3,900 feet of frontage along the Meherrin River, a tributary of the Chowan River. This strategic location contributes to the protection of water quality in the Meherrin and Chowan Rivers, ultimately benefiting the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound Estuary.
  3. Threatened Species Habitat: Within the property’s boundaries lies habitat critical for threatened species, including Rafinesque’s Eastern Big Eared Bat, Eastern Mudsnake, and Green Floater. Preserving this habitat is a significant step in the conservation of these species.
  4. Natural Heritage Screening: The Property falls within the Claresville Bottomlands Natural Heritage Screening Conservation Site, further emphasizing its ecological significance and the need for its protection.

Estie Thomas, Easement Manager at Virginia Outdoors Foundation, expressed the importance of the preservation of Pierce’s Low Grounds: “This project nearly doubles the amount of pristine forest and habitat VOF has conserved in partnership with Enviva over the past decade. We are grateful for their support, and for the support of the landowners whose commitment to conservation is inspiring.”

Brandi Colander, Chief Sustainability Officer at Enviva, stated, “We are incredibly pleased to have been able to assist in the permanent conservation of this property due to its significant importance for critical bottomland forests as well as for the preservation and protection of precious habitats for various species, including threatened ones.”

The Pierce’s Low Grounds conservation project aligns with the broader mission of environmental stewardship and sustainable land management, ensuring the perpetual preservation of this significant natural landscape.

About the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund:

The Enviva Forest Conservation Fund is a $5 million, 10-year program established by Enviva in December 2015 to protect environmentally sensitive bottomland and wetland forests. Administered by the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, the Fund awards grants annually to nonprofit organizations and government agencies for conservation projects. Learn more at http://envivaforestfund.org/

About Virginia Outdoors Foundation:

The Virginia Outdoors Foundation is established to promote the preservation of open-space lands and to encourage private gifts of money, securities, land or other property to preserve the natural, scenic, historic, scientific, open-space and recreational areas of the Commonwealth.

Learn more: https://vof.org/

About the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities:

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities. To learn more about the Endowment, please visit our website at www.usendowment.org.

Media Contacts:

Aleta Rogers, U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (aleta@usendowment.org; 864-233-7646)

Coastal Resilience & Trees Fund opens 2024 grant round

The Virginia Outdoors Foundation and Wetlands Watch have partnered to offer grant resources through the Coastal Resilience and Trees Fund. Now in its second year, the fund provides grants for projects that seek to achieve increased resilience to flooding, sea level rise, climate change, and extreme weather events in Virginia’s coastal communities. The primary goal of the fund is to support implementation of resilient practices and enhance the ability of entities to plan for future implementation of resiliency projects within the coastal zone.

There is $135,000 available in total for the 2024 grant round. No match is required for grants awarded in this program, and awardees can request the full grant award upfront in order to accommodate applicants that require startup funds for the project. Applications for the 2024 grant cycle are due no later than 11:59 p.m., April 5, 2024. 

Project proposals will be accepted in three categories: Capacity Building, Natural and Nature Based Infrastructure, and Stewardship. Projects can be on either private or publicly owned land; projects that are publicly accessible will be prioritized. Projects can vary widely in both their size and funding needs. This fund is intended to provide resources for projects that may not be eligible under other grants. 

Funding is available to a wide range of organizations and private citizens. Eligible projects are those located in the Coastal Zone, as defined by the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program. The Coastal Resilience and Trees Fund grant manual, full program timeline, details on applicant eligibility, grant application materials, and more can be viewed at  https://wetlandswatch.org/coastal-resilience-trees-fund.

Please direct any questions to Wetlands Watch staff via email at grants@wetlandswatch.org.

Town of Montross Town Park, Westmoreland County

The Town of Montross has its first-ever park thanks to the efforts of the community and a Get Outdoors grant from VOF.
The Town of Montross has its first-ever park thanks to the efforts of the community and a Get Outdoors grant from VOF.

Virginia State Route 3 runs through the middle of the Town of Montross, making this hamlet of 325 people—with its regional library, public schools, grocery store and shops—the hub for several large residential developments along the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers. The one thing the town was missing, says its mayor, Terry Cosgrove, was a park. “It always kind of baffled me. When my granddaughter came to visit in the summertime, we’d drive two towns down to a public park or go to Westmoreland State Park. But those are 15-20 minutes away.”

So Cosgrove and other town leaders went to area residents with the idea of turning an old parking lot into the town’s first park. The response was phenomenal, he states. “We’re a very small town in a rural area, but we obtained about $35,000 in public and private donations.” That money, with federal funds and a grant from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation’s Get Outdoors Fund, was enough to clear the parcel’s asphalt, grade the land, install playground equipment and walking paths, and add picnic and sound stage pavilions.

The playground provides a long-overdue option for caregivers in Montross, who used to have to drive 15-20 minutes to the nearest park.
The playground provides a long-overdue option for caregivers in Montross, who used to have to drive 15-20 minutes to the nearest park.

The location of the parcel ties in with the town’s efforts to create more pedestrian connections downtown. “We’ve been consciously trying to create more of a pedestrian-friendly and walking community here in our town, get people out of their cars, so that the location ended up being just about perfect.” The parcel is adjacent to the regional library and only a short distance from the town’s historic courthouse. Additionally, the site already hosts public restrooms, installed by the county when the old sheriff’s office was still standing nearby.

While visitors to Montross will find the park a convenient stop during their travels, Cosgrove says the kids of the town will benefit the most.

From funding to implementation, area residents have taken ownership of the site. Students from the Northern Neck Technical Center built picnic tables that the town purchased for the picnic pavilion. The Northern Neck Master Gardeners are planning to install native plantings, and a group called Montross Main Street will move some of its popular events, like the First Friday Art and Music Series, to the new outdoor venue. “We already have people talking about yoga in the park and art in the park, and there is a youth program that is anxious to utilize the space,” Cosgrove adds.

Cosgrove also wants to use the park to promote other attractions in the area by installing outdoor signage that ties the town in with the nearby historical landmarks of Stratford Hall and Wakefield. “This way, anybody that stops to utilize the park or the bathroom and take a break in their travels might want to linger in the area a little bit longer.”

VOF opens $1.875 million grant round for open-space projects

The Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) is making $1.7 million available from its Preservation Trust Fund program and $175,000 from its Get Outdoors Fund for grants that protect open space for public use and other public benefits.

Preservation Trust Fund grants for the spring 2024 grant round will prioritize projects that result in significant public access, but funds may also be used for projects that protect exceptional conservation values such as water quality, historic and cultural resources, wildlife habitat, and high-quality farmland and forestland. A real estate interest must either be acquired by a local government or conveyed to VOF to be eligible for funding, and protection must meet the requirements of Virginia’s Open-Space Land Act.

Get Outdoors Fund grants may be used to fund projects that create, protect, expand, or enhance access to open space in underserved communities. Proposals up to $25,000 may be considered.

The Get Outdoors Fund requires pre-applications to be submitted through VOF’s online grants portal by 5 p.m. on February 12, 2024. Invitations to submit a full application will be issued within one week of pre-application receipt.

Full applications for both programs must be submitted through our online grant application portal by 5 p.m. on March 8, 2024. Eligibility requirements, sample applications, a timeline, the link to the application portal, and other materials may be found online at https://vof.org/ptf and https://vof.org/go

VOF encourages potential applicants to contact staff prior to applying to discuss eligibility and seek guidance on producing a successful application. Contact grants@vof.org with questions or for information on how to apply. To schedule a short meeting with grant program staff to discuss project ideas, use https://doodle.com/bp/emilynelson/time-to-talk.

Downtown Greens Expansion Project, City of Fredericksburg

Downtown Greens Expansion Project, City of Fredericksburg
Downtown Greens is ready to expand its agricultural education work to a brand new campus, purchased with the help of VOF's Preservation Trust Fund and protected by a VOF easement.

When one of the last parcels of working farmland in the City of Fredericksburg went on the market in 2020, a group of concerned citizens approached Downtown Greens, Inc. as a potential buyer. The organization was looking to expand after 25 years of connecting people to nature on its 2.7-acre campus downtown, where it holds educational programs and feeds the community with locally grown produce from its free fridge and food pantry.

At first, the prospect of managing such a large space was daunting, says Sarah Perry, who was the executive director of Downtown Greens, Inc., when the citizens’ group proposed the land purchase. “Initially, we said no,” she remembers. “The parcel was so much bigger than anything we thought we would pursue as our next growth piece. But they kept talking to us. They walked the land with us again and again. We consulted our partners, and we realized we could do it.”

 

Downtown Greens Expansion Project, City of Fredericksburg
The new campus will host an Agricultural Education Center, two farm fields, greenhouses, an orchard, and plenty of wooded space and wetlands for trails.

That’s when the fundraising began, she adds, with a capital campaign that needed to raise $750,000 for the downpayment plus the first few years of mortgage payments. “We ended up raising a million by the end of the year. It was so much better than we thought it would be, but we still owed another $1.2 million towards the purchase price.” Grants from the Virginia Land Conservation Fund (VLCF) and the Virginia’ Outdoors Foundation’s Preservation Trust Fund both got them closer to their goal. Finally, selling the tax credits they received from protecting the property with an open-space easement with VOF will leave them debt free on the land.

Now Downtown Greens has more space to keep doing what it does best, says Jim Schepmoes, who is taking on the role of executive director as Perry steps down. The services they provide on the original 2.7-acre campus will be complimented by an Agricultural Education Center, two farm fields, greenhouses, an orchard, and plenty of wooded space and wetlands for trails on the new parcel, just five minutes down the road.

Downtown Greens Expansion Project, City of Fredericksburg
Downtown Greens has been hosting winter nature walks on the property since the beginning of December and plans more in the new year.

Before any of this can be implemented, says Schepmoes, Downtown Greens needs to conduct a detailed planning study for the site. “Whatever we do on the new property, we want it to be workable and sustainable. We want to do things right the first time.”

The planning study means a new round of fundraising, Perry adds, but their successful campaign for the land purchase proved they can meet the challenge. “The support from folks like VOF and VCLF was huge. And a great way to make public the fact that we’re serious, that we have supporters who believe in us.”

Downtown Greens has already begun hosting nature walks on the property. These are free and open to the public. Visit their Facebook page for dates and times.

Mill Creek Nature Park Revitalization, Giles County

Mill Creek Nature Park Revitalization, Giles County
Mill Creek Nature Park offers a less crowded alternative to the Cascades National Recreational Trail, with waterfalls and hiking and biking trails that connect to the Jefferson National Forest.

Ask Ralph Robertson to tell you about Mill Creek Nature Park, and he’ll ask you how much time you have. “I could tell stories for hours.  I don’t mind chances to brag on it,” he jokes. The 147-acre park’s hiking and biking trails take users past waterfalls, over creek crossings, and up a mountain with scenic views overlooking the Town of Narrows. Robertson has earned some bragging rights, as he has built these trails himself with some help from friends, either by clearing blowdowns from old logging roads or bushwhacking new sections from scratch.

Now that work will be protected and enhanced with a grant from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation’s Forest CORE Fund. The grant covered the Town of Narrow’s costs of donating an open-space easement on the Mill Creek parcel, as well as helped pay for a makeover of the trailhead, including a new restroom, plans for an enhanced drainage system, and sturdier signs.

The Forest CORE funding enabled the town to achieve two things at once, says town manager, Terry Nicholson. “That mountain forms the viewshed of the entire town. The conservation easement was a way to make sure that viewshed was protected into the future, and the grant allowed us to add amenities that make the public access even better.” 

Access is beneficial to both out-of-towners and locals. Users of the Appalachian Trail can hike into Narrows and the nearby town of Pearisburg to rest and restock. There are also a lot of people who come in from Blacksburg, says Robertson, “but the thing I love and that really makes me feel good is how many locals use it. And they take pride in it and keep an eye on it. I think it really helps the community.”

Mill Creek Nature Park Revitalization, Giles County
Robertson's newest trail leads up to Sentinel Point, where hikers and bikers can take in a view of the Town of Narrows.

Robertson leads a New Year’s Eve hike along the newest trail which gets longer as he builds it out every year. “Last year we had over 20 hikers,” he says. “Lot of the folks like coming back just to see how much longer it is than the year before.” Currently known as “Ralph’s Trail,” the new trail is also great for mountain bikers, connecting riders with the Sentinel Point overlook and then back down to the waterfalls, a seven-mile loop. “From Sentinel Point you’re looking through the gap the New River formed between East River Mountain and Peters Mountain,” Robertson says. That’s where the New River narrows, he adds, which is how the Town of Narrows got its name.

For more information on Robertson’s New Year’s Hike, look for an announcement on his Facebook page in December. To get more tips on the trails or to download a trail guide, visit the Town of Narrows website.

Weller Woods Learning Trail, City of Staunton

Weller Woods Learning Trail, City of Staunton
The Weller Woods Learning Trail will provide the students of its namesake elementary school with opportunities to let nature be their teacher.

Sun peeks through leaves

Baby birds cry for mothers

Water flows gently

–Braydon, 3rd grade

When third graders at Bessie Weller Elementary School learned about the Japanese poetic form of haiku this year, they finally had the perfect place to try their hand at writing one: the Weller Woods Learning Trail. Newly built on a 3.3-acre wooded lot adjacent to the school with a grant from VOF’s Get Outdoors Fund, the trail gave the kids a chance to express themselves while experiencing the outdoors on “Haiku Hikes” organized by the school librarian.

It’s just one of the many outdoor learning opportunities the new trail makes possible, says the school’s principal, Sandra McGrath, who adds that teachers at each grade level are designing lessons that link state Standards of Learning to experiences on the trail. As these curricular connections are established, McGrath envisions all 380 students at the Title 1 school participating in “regular, sustained outdoor experiences” on the trail over the course of a year. The goal, she states, is a better “appreciation and understanding of how our school community is part of a larger ecosystem.”

Designing the trail has been a community effort, says Tamra Willis, a retired professor of teacher education from Mary Baldwin University who worked with McGrath on the grant application. “We put together a trail committee with people from local community groups like Shenandoah Green, the Augusta Bird Club and the local chapter of the Virginia Native Plant society,” she states. “Plus we have a retired fisheries biologist from the Department of Wildlife Resources and quite a few teachers and administrators from Bessie Weller. We got input from everybody.”

 

Weller Woods Learning Trail, City of Staunton
Mary Baldwin University's basketball team came out to help with the heavy lifting.

Building the trail was also a community effort. Volunteer days have brought out parents, as well as the Shenandoah chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists. Willis is particularly impressed with volunteers from Mary Baldwin University’s men’s basketball team. “They’ve been out several times now, and when they come out, we get so much done. They can move a mountain of mulch in no time at all.”

There is still work to do, including developing different “Investigation Stations” along the trail, with bench seating and whiteboard kiosks that teachers can use to conduct lessons.

Weller Woods Learning Trail, City of Staunton
Teachers worked with student volunteers to design learning stations.

Willis, a longtime advocate of connecting student learning to the outdoors, is excited about what the new trail will bring to Bessie Weller students. “We know from the research that getting kids outside in nature has lots of benefits—physically, mentally and socially. Nature is also a great teacher, providing real-world, meaningful learning experiences for students.”

Principal McGrath has seen it with her own eyes, watching students get to know their new trail. “They absolutely love it,” she says. “We are so excited about how this project is moving forward.”

Anathallo Acres, Augusta County

Anathallo Acres, Augusta County
Alex Moore practices regenerative agriculture on his 200-acre farm, Anathallo Acres, Greek for "to flourish anew." Placing a VOF easement on the property is one way Moore ensures it stays true to its name..
“Farms & Forests” is a new series showcasing VOF-protected working lands that take innovative approaches to resource management, revenue generation, and partnerships.

Alex Moore didn’t anticipate using his degree in entrepreneurship back at the family farm, but after a year working behind a computer at a tech company in Charlottesville, he knew he needed something different. “I felt disconnected,” he says. “I needed more physically and mentally demanding work—and  the family farm offered that in spades.”

He thought he could get back to growing things and use his marketing knowledge to connect the farm’s products directly with the consumer. “There was market opportunity for a smaller, direct-to-customer operation that would dovetail well with our family’s cow-calf operation. So for the past ten years I’ve been building a client base and a brand that is slowly growing into its own sustainable business.”

Branding the farm and its products “Anathallo,” from the Greek “to flourish anew,” acknowledges prior caretakers of the land, Moore says.

The brand is Anathallo Acres, (from the Greek, meaning “to flourish anew) named for his 200-acre family farm in Augusta County. There, Moore raises grass-fed beef, pastured poultry and pork and grows gourmet mushrooms, all with a focus on regenerative agriculture. The Moore family protected the entire 231-acre parcel with an open-space easement in 2016.

While caring for the land is his first concern, Moore is also growing partnerships with other farms, businesses, and conservation organizations to help his community thrive beyond the farm gate. “In the end, I’m trying to do all these different things,” he states. “I’m foolishly trying to be marketer, operator, salesman, distributor, delivery man…you get the idea. But I realize I could do these things so much better if I’m willing to hand off some responsibilities, if I have the attitude of, ‘This farm over here can do this better. What if we partnered together instead of constantly trying to reinvent the wheel?’” He’s joined forces with farms that take Anathallo Acres products and advertise and distribute them for him. “I would give them a chunk of my take-home, and in exchange I get to turn the time I saved back into focusing on the production and honing in on the craft” of farming, he states. Moore sees these sorts of collaborations as the future of small operations working in the regenerative space. “It shouldn’t be one hundred small farmers trying to do absolutely everything themselves,” he adds. “We’re running ourselves straight off the burnout cliff doing it that way.”

Moore sells several varieties of gourmet mushrooms through various outlets, including the Staunton Farmer’s Market.

Moore focuses on the marketing side of things in his mushroom production, where he’s teamed up with other growers who produce the pre-inoculated substrate needed to grow the mushrooms. He then markets and sells what he grows to the Staunton Farmers Market, other farms like Poplar Ridge and Sylvanaqua, and organizations like Foodlore Provisions and Project Grows. He also partnered with a neighboring farm to purchase an autoclave, a piece of equipment that sterilizes the substrate needed to grow the mushrooms, to help them expand their operation. “Without me in the equation it really didn’t make any sense for them to buy it, but now they can produce more and I get more varieties to sell than I had before.”

The 4th -generation farmer is also forging partnerships with businesses and conservation organizations. A partnership with Middle River Outfitters gives the company and its angler clients access to a stretch of Christians Creek on the property for private fly-fishing expeditions. “It’s been great,” Moore says of the collaboration. “We get a rod fee for creek access and oftentimes, before the client leaves, they’ll also pick up a few products from me as they head home,” Moore states. To further improve the health of the stream and allow Middle River Outfitters to have better access to Christians Creek, Moore partnered with Louise Finger of the Department of Wildlife Resources to remove a failed bridge he inherited from the previous owners of the property. Through months of planning and permitting, Finger guided Alex and his father as they worked to successfully demolish the bridge, restoring the stream bank to allow for better flood management and natural fish migration.

A chicken trailer allows Moore to move his brood to fresh foraging ground daily.

Perhaps Moore’s most important partnership is with his father, Lewis, whose cow-calf operation runs alongside Anathallo Acres. “I work sixty percent of the time for his operation and sixty percent for mine,” he jokes. Recording the easement on Anathallo Farms was important for “us to have those harder generational conversations. The language of perpetuity forced us to look at the farm as something spanning beyond one or two or even four generations and to truly consider how we can do justice to this ground that we love so dearly. And the tax savings and change in the land’s valuation has offered our family some breathing room and capital to reinvest in the farm and lay the foundation for it ‘to flourish anew’ into future generations—whether it’s still in our family or in some other caring farmer’s hand.” 

VOF announces $2.1 million for 20 open-space projects across Virginia

The Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) today announced $2,154,840 in grants for projects that protect open space for public benefit in 17 counties and cities.

The 20 grants were awarded from VOF’s Preservation Trust Fund and Get Outdoors Fund grant programs. The Preservation Trust Fund program provides grants for acquisitions, easements, rights of way, and other methods of protecting open space for farming, forestry, recreation, wildlife, water quality, and more. The Get Outdoors Fund provides grants for projects that increase safe access to open space in communities.

To learn more about VOF’s grant programs, visit https://www.vof.org/protect/grants/.

Grant Recipient Summaries


Preservation Trust Fund


Grantee: Chickahominy Indian Tribe        

Project Title: Chickahominy Indian Tribe – Land Repatriation          

Locality: New Kent County

Amount: $300,000

Description: To purchase a 200-acre parcel at South Courthouse Road in New Kent County, so the tribe can repatriate a portion of its ancestral land for hunting, fishing, and nature-based education and recreation purposes. This project would restore a small part of the land that the tribe once managed and held in relationship. The New Kent County future land-use map designates the area for conservation.


Grantee: City of Newport News 

Project Title: Stoney Run Park Nature Trails         

Locality: Newport News, City of

Amount: $363,750

Description: To facilitate the development of approximately 2 miles of nature trails through city-owned property adjacent to an existing community park. The new trail will take users through wooded wetlands teaming with biodiversity. Interpretive signs throughout the path will educate users on the natural features, plant and animal species found along the trail.


Grantee: Frederick County Parks and Recreation                               

Project Title: Abrams Creek Trail Trailhead and Parking

Locality: Frederick County

Amount: $206,668

Description: To provide a trailhead and parking for the Abrams Creek Trail. The trailhead will include an asphalt entrance and parking to provide public access for the Abrams Creek Trail.


Grantee: Giles County                                  

Project Title: Site Purchase to Build McCoy Boat Landing

Locality: Giles County

Amount: $20,000

Description: To purchasing land to construct the McCoy Falls Boat Landing on the New River, a few hundred yards upstream from McCoy Falls. Goodwin’s Ferry Road provides access to the land. Construction of the McCoy Falls Boat Ramp in Giles County is a critical and essential component in a much larger, region-wide initiative entitled The New River Water Trail (NRWT) Expansion Project.


Grantee: Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia                    

Project Title: Patawomeck Tribe Riverland

Locality: Stafford County

Amount: $100,000

Description: To acquire a 14.24-acre parcel of land located on the Rappahannock River. The Patawomeck Tribe was formally recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2010 and is one of 11 state recognized tribes. The Patawomeck Community is centered in southern Stafford County and operates a museum and cultural center just across the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg at Little Falls. The project property is located adjacent to the Tribal Center.


Grantee: Taylor and Robert Scott              

Project Title: Angola Farm           

Locality: Cumberland County

Amount: $275,000

Description: To acquire an easement on a 274-acre beef and timber farm in Cumberland County. Recent closure of poultry processing plant ended poultry production and created financial hardship. The property has long frontage on Angola Creek, a tributary stream, wetlands, and a large lake. The farm has been in the family for about 130 years and is farmed by a father and son.


Grantee: Town of Boones Mill    

Project Title: Maurice Turner Recreation Area                    

Locality: Franklin County

Amount: $50,327.92

Description: To develop the Maurice Turner Recreation Area on town-owned property adjacent to a one-acre pond. A small picnic shelter, tables, an ADA-compliant walking trail, benches, interpretive signage, and a small bike rack will be included.


Grantee: Town of Clifton Forge   

Project Title: Hazel Run Conservation Area

Locality: Alleghany County

Amount: $140,000

Description: To create a conservation area surrounding the Hazel Run Trail in the Town of Clifton Forge. By protecting adjacent land parcels through a deed of dedication to open space, the scenic qualities and natural resources surrounding Hazel Run will be protected in perpetuity.


Grantee: Town of Mount Crawford          

Project Title: Mount Crawford Town Park Creation

Locality: Rockingham County

Amount: $303,000

Description: To create the town’s first public park and space, which includes a sensory trail, sensory playground, picnic shelter, bathroom, parking, native tree walk, and direct access to the North River. The project will conserve native forest; promote walking, fishing, and boating; tie in to a recently completed boat launch; provide a public gathering space for residents, families, and town events; and build a sense of place.


Grantee: William Lee Andrews                                 

Project Title: Andrews Home Farm

Locality: Essex County

Amount: $200,000

Description: To permanently protect a farm that has been owned and operated by the same family for more than 100 years. The owner-operator farms hundreds of acres in the local community and participates in local soil and water conservation efforts. He is a widely respected member of the local agricultural community. The property is located in an area of very high value agricultural land in the Rappahannock River and Chesapeake Bay watershed, which contributes to the local farm economy.


Get Outdoors


Grantee: Alleghany Highlands YMCA       

Project Title: The Alleghany Highlands YMCA All Access Trail

Locality: Alleghany County

Amount: $15,000

Description: The All Access Trail is designed to be entered via graduated surfaces and has sensory-building activities throughout the quarter-mile length. Such activities will include a wheelchair swing, a sensory garden with plants and flowers, plantings of native trees such as dogwoods and redbuds to provide both color and shade, a kids’ zone using natural building components to encourage exploration and experimentation, and a music station to encourage participants to create their own music.


Grantee: Bluebird Gap Farm                                     

Project Title: ATTA Farm Project (Accessible Trails To All)

Locality: Hampton, City of

Amount: $14,000

Description: The goal of the project is to purchase two all-terrain wheelchairs that can be rented out to the public for no cost. These tools would be essential in ensuring visitors’ access to all areas of the park, including forest trails, natural beach, grassy areas, and gravel paths. Not only would this provide equitable access to the outdoors for wheelchair users, but it is the accessibility solution with the smallest environmental impact as it would require little to no changes to the land itself.


Grantee: Chickahominy Indian Tribe- Eastern Division                     

Project Title: CIT-ED Nature Trail

Locality: New Kent County

Amount: $20,000

Description: The nature trail on Eastern Division Chickahominy Tribal land has been used for years by tribal citizens and the public community. Due to time, weather, lack of resources, and increasingly less foot traffic, the trail has become inaccessible for regular use. The restoration of the nature trail would allow the community to safely access the outdoors. It would also allow opportunities for community engagement and education regarding traditional knowledge and stewardship of our Earth.


Grantee: Come to the Altar Ministry, Inc.                            

Project Title: CTTAM Community Grows Garden 

Locality: Campbell County

Amount: $22,500

Description: The Community Grows Garden was developed to provide a sustainable source of food for the community via Come to the Altar Ministry, and as an educational center for area youth to get them outdoors and learning about gardening, farming, nature, nutrition, and more. There are also components for seniors and veterans to be involved, as well as various community groups who desire to volunteer.


Grantee: Community Gear Library 

Project Title: Community Gear Library Lending Program

Locality: Harrisonburg, City of

Amount: $15,000

Description: The Community Gear Library is a resource in the Shenandoah Valley to increase access to the outdoors for all members of a diverse community. Participants will be able to borrow hiking and camping gear at no cost and can pick from individual items or choose to borrow Family Camping Kits that will provide them with all the gear needed for a camping trip. Participants will attend an information session to learn about local trails, camping areas, and how to use gear.


Grantee: Flat Ridge Community Center

Project Title: Flat Ridge Community Center Hoops and Loop

Locality: Grayson County

Amount: $25,000

Description: The HOOPS project will benefit the growing population of children that have no outside recreation area by replacing basketball hoops and updating swings to an existing play area. The LOOP project will benefit residents of all ages through the creation of a walking track. The LOOP would encourage a space for physical exercise in a safe environment for aging residents.


Grantee: Front Royal Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC)

Project Title: Outdoor Fitness Station – Burrell Brooks Park, Front Royal

Locality: Warren County

Amount: $23,594.50

Description: Front Royal’s Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee is partnering with Warren County Parks & Recreation to create a first-of-its kind outdoor fitness station at one of the most highly used public spaces in Front Royal, Burrell Brooks Park. The fitness station will create a unique recreational opportunity for entire families, both adults and youth, to improve physical fitness in a fun and engaging way outdoors.


Grantee: Henry County 

Project Title: MHC YMCA Bike Barn Inventory Replacement          

Locality: Martinsville, City of

Amount: $25,000

Description: The Bike Barn is a great asset to the community and is operated by the Martinsville-Henry County YMCA. The program allows people to borrow bikes and helmets at no cost and ride on the Dick and Willie Trail. This program is grant and donation funded for the operational costs. There are no funds for inventory replacement. The applicants are hoping to relocate the old bike barn to a more community-friendly space and feel this will attract more families.


Grantee: The Humble Hustle Co

Project Title: Humble Hikes Getaways

Locality: Roanoke, City of

Amount: $16,000

Description: Humble Hikes would like to create regional overnight camping opportunities that take students outside of the Roanoke Valley to explore the outdoors. This project will expand Humble Hikes events to include overnight camping experiences in regional parks. The project provides participants with all the required gear for camping including transportation, tents, sleeping bags, food, and equipment needed for outdoor activities such as canoeing, fishing and hiking.


Grantee: The Mariners’ Museum and Park           

Project Title: Expanding Nature-Based Enrichment for Students

Locality: Newport News, City of

Amount: $20,000

Description: Mariners’ has become a well-known resource for immersive environmental education on the Peninsula. To successfully scale nature-based programming and serve 2,800 students with free programs during the 2023-24 school year, support is needed to make critical improvements. Funds will be used to create a new, accessible program site by replacing damaged and unstable pavers with level decking, and installing ADA-compliant tables and a ramp leading to the adjacent boat dock serving students of all abilities.