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ConservationNEWSSummer 2018landtrustva.org“A Landscape Under Threat”A Conservation Gathering at Llangollen FarmOn Saturday, April 21st, the Land Trustof Virginia co-sponsored “A LandscapeUnder Threat” at historic LlangollenFarm in southwestern Loudoun County.The Mosby Heritage Area Association(MHAA) and the Loudoun CountyPreservation and Conservation Coalition(LCPCC) joined LTV in co-sponsoring ahalf-day discussion about how the localconservation community can work morecollaboratively to meet the challenges toland conservation in Loudoun, Fauquierand Clarke Counties. Donald and PatriciaBrennan, the current owners and stewardsof Llangollen, graciously hosted the event.Over 150 local concerned citizens,landowners, representatives fromCover photo by Greg Duthieconservation and preservationorganizations, and elected officials gatheredto explore measures that can be taken toprotect more effectively the natural andcultural resources of this region.Al Van Huyck, LCPCC Chair and keynotespeaker at the event, remarked that, “Whena place is destroyed, it is forever. Aplaque or a photograph of a historic siteis not a substitute.” Al urged LoudounCounty residents to get involved in theEnvision Loudoun 2040 plan and to keep inmind, “Elections matter.”Chris Dematatis, LTV’s Chairman, presentedinformation generated by the Land Trustof Virginia’s “Blue Ridge ConservationBob LeeContinued on page 2

Summe r 2018Con servation Ne w s"A Landscape Under Threat" (continued)From The Land Trust ofVirginia Board of DirectorsA Community of SupportersThe Land Trust of Virginia co-sponsored a symposium titled “ALandscape Under Threat” at Llangollen in April and held our20th Annual Garden Party at Peace and Plenty at Bollingbrookin May. Both events, featured elsewhere in this newsletter,provided meaningful reminders for all of us at LTV that we arepart of a large community of organizations and individuals whoare concerned about land conservation in Virginia.Above, conversations continued over lunch.Initiative,” a strategic conservation project that targets theprotection of a 40-mile stretch along the Blue Ridge Mountainsfrom Shenandoah National Park to Harpers Ferry. Chrisnoted that, according to the Department of Conservation andRecreation, this portion of the Blue Ridge and the surroundingvalleys are highly vulnerable to development.Stephen C. Price, Chairman of MHAA, encouraged the audience tobecome more engaged in the advocacy of protecting our naturaland cultural resources, noting that county governments cannot betrusted to always make the right decisions.Following those presentations, Bob Lee, former ExecutiveDirector of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, and former CountyAdministrator of both Clarke and Fauquier Counties, moderateda panel discussion. Panelists included Harry Atherton, formerChair of the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors; GeorgeOhrstrom, Chair of the Clarke County Planning Commission andof the Piedmont Environmental Council; Malcom Baldwin, formeracting Chair and senior staff member of the White House Councilon Environmental Quality and former LTV board member; TomGilmore, Chief Real Estate Officer of the Civil War Trust; andKaren Lutz, Director of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the AppalachianTrail Conservancy. The panelists agreed that the protectionof the region from uncontrolled development is paramountand that better collaboration amongst all conservation mindedorganizations in the area is critical.Landowners present at the event who have placed their propertiesinto conservation easement were asked to stand and were thankedfor their leadership. One of the action items from the symposiumwas to encourage those easement donors and others to seek outtheir neighbors and encourage them to also place their land ineasement. Another action item was a commitment from membersof the conservation community to find ways to work morecooperatively so that more land is conserved.The timing for the “A Landscape Under Threat” event comeson the heels of recent conservation losses in Loudoun County.Speakers mentioned multiple development threats that areContinued on page 32The events were also demonstrations of the willingness of thoseinvolved to translate their concerns into investments of theirtime, their energy and expertise, or their financial resources, tosupport land conservation.Support for the Land Trust of Virginia’s conservation workcomes in many forms and from many sources. Every year wereceive donations ranging from the purchase of a Garden Partyticket to major financial gifts. Some volunteers donate a fewhours each year while others give us several weeks of their time.There are those who offer items, services, and experiences forour silent auction each spring and each year we are blessed bythe generosity of those who host the Garden Party at whichthose silent auctions are held.Our financial donations and other forms of support comefrom individuals and families, from small businesses and largecorporations, from foundations and from local, state andnational land conservation organizations.The contributions we receive each year from the landownerswho choose to donate their conservation easements to LTVare significant for two reasons. Each easement is important forthe land that it conserves. Each is also a demonstration of thetrust the landowner has in LTV to be a responsible holder andsteward of their easement. Their trust is a form of support thatis immeasurable in dollars and speaks to the care we have takenas our organization has grown and assumed more and morestewardship responsibilities.Members of the Land Trust of Virginia’s Board, Advisory Counciland staff all recognize and appreciate the many ways in whichothers who share a goal of greater land conservation in Virginiasupport our work. We are proud to be a part of that largeconservation community.For the Board,Christopher C. DematatisChairman

Summer 2 0 1 8C onservation NewsA Loudoun County Community ComesTogether to Create Their Own Trail SystemNorth Fork Neighborhood TrailsRecently, a dozen property owners outside Purcellville met to pourover a large map of their area’s gravel roads, nearby properties, creeks,and ponds. They were looking for a way to form a series of local trailsthat would primarily use Loudoun County’s unpaved roads but alsooccasionally cross private property. They were looking to create aseries of trails that would loop around to bring the paths’ users backto their starting point.The group met and within a short time had mapped out five or sixpossible trails, all located in the North Fork area. One neighbor said:“We want safe trails to walk our dogs, ride our horses, observe birdsand nature, or just get a little exercise while getting out into thisbeautiful, rural part of our county.”The newly formed “North Fork Neighborhood Trails” organizationpoints out that no private property would be crossed or walkedwithout that property owner’s knowledge and consent. The NorthFork Trail group all agreed on several ground rules. Members of thegroup agreed to be respectful of each other’s properties, to stay onthe designated trails, to keep dogs on leashes, to not drink alcohol orsmoke, and to only use the trails during daylight hours. They also allagreed to sign liability releases.Some of these trails will be a half-mile or mile, while others will belonger. There are at least two nearby ponds that the trails couldpass, which would make for good bird watching. While still in theplanning stages, members of the North Fork Neighborhood Trailgroup are approachinglocal landowners.They know that someproperty owners maynot mind the occasionalneighbor or two walkingacross a corner of theirproperty, or along afence line, but theymay not want dogs orhorses to cross theirland. “That’s the owner’sdecision and we respectit,” said one of the horseriders in the group.“No one here wantsMembers of the Trail Group reveiwing maps.to do anything that wouldmake a neighbor unhappy.”Property owners near the proposed trails will be invited to join theTrail Group. “This will be a fun way to get to know neighbors, getsome exercise, and enjoy nature. It’s a win-win-win situation!” saidone of the organizers.Outdoor equestrian or walking trails can help increase propertyvalues. They make communities more livable. They help protect openspace and provide great exercise. LTV commends the efforts of thisneighborhood group."A Landscape Under Threat" (continued)Mr. Brennan closed the event with this, “What would Chief JusticeJohn Marshall, the original owner of this farm, think if he werehere today? Would he recognize the landscape? As it standstoday, Marshall would actually recognize it, thanks to the effortsof easement donors and preservation organizations, but that canchange with one developer’s shovel.”Above, Chris Dematatis presented information on LTV’s Blue RidgeConservation Initiative.looming in Loudoun and Fauquier Counties. Concerns wereexpressed that preservation efforts are not resonating with electedofficials. Attendees were encouraged to get involved and speak totheir elected officials because conservation and preservation issuesare in their hands.Conservation leaders and citizens at the event emphasizedthe importance of taking action now. It was a message thatclearly resonated with everyone in attendance. We were allencouraged to be more proactive, not reactive, in the face ofdevelopment pressures. LTV will continue to do our part toencourage landowners to donate conservation easements ontheir properties and will expand our efforts to collaborate withothers in the local conservation community to protect more ofour precious landscape.3

Summe r 2018Con servation Ne w sThe Land Trust of Virginia Welcomes Over 350 Supporters to“Peace & Plenty” at Bollingbrook for20th AnnualGarden PartyMore than 350 guests gathered on May 20thto celebrate LTV’s ongoing conservationefforts. The 20th annual Garden Partywas hosted by Mrs. Rose Marie Bogley ather historic estate, “Peace and Plenty” atBollingbrook. The event was attended byan array of supporters – easement donors,conservation professionals, businesssponsors, and others who share a passionfor land conservation in Virginia.The event featured a silent auction,awards ceremony, and wet paint auction,Painting for Preservation, in whichaccomplished local artists createdworks of art based on thegardens and scenes around“Peace & Plenty.”The Garden Party also serves as anopportunity to recognize people who haveplayed an integral role in helping LTV carryout its mission. Chris Dematatis, LTV’sChairman of the Board, presented threeawards. The first, Steward of the Year, wasawarded to Catharine W. Tucker, a life-longconservationist and environmental educatorwho placed her 70-acre property in HanoverCounty under easement in 2011. The secondaward, Landowner of the Year, was awardedto Michael A. Smith, who worked with LTV in2017 to put an easement on his 350acre Atoka Farm, which contains99 acres of the core battlefield area of theBattle of Upperville. The third and final awardof the afternoon, Conservationist of the Yearfor Leadership and Lifetime Achievement,went to Jacqueline B. Mars. LTV worked withMrs. Mars in 2017 to protect Meredyth Farm,her 216-acre property in Fauquier County.As LTV’s leading annual fundraising event, itwas a highly successful event on a gloriousday. LTV would like to thank everyone whocontributed and attended and especially ourgracious hostess, Mrs. Rose Marie Bogley,for providing the perfect backdrop for acelebration of conservation.Rose Marie Bogley’s lovely home.4