Conservation Close to Home
The New River Land Trust works to conserve farmland, forests, open spaces, and historic places in the New River region of Southwest Virginia. Since 2002, we have helped protect over 55,000 acres of land in the region and over 26 miles of New River frontage.
The result is that productive farmland, wildlife habitat, scenic views, climate resilient areas, and water quality are protected. We use cutting-edge technology to identify land in critical need of conservation. We work with partners, including local governments, on larger land policy and conservation issues, such as the future Brush Mountain Park project. We also educate and assist landowners to conserve their land by voluntarily donating conservation easements on their property.
Our Youth Outreach program and the Nature Play Space in Heritage Park connect kids to the outdoors, reaching out to the next generation of conservationists. The program helps kids form a meaningful, healthy, and lifelong relationship with nature and the outdoors.
Please become a supporter or subscribe to our e-news today, and support “Conservation Close to Home“.
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News
Property in Giles County Will Protect Forest & Views
Chuck McClaugherty’s family lived in Giles County before the county was even established. They owned a large farm on Doe Creek before the farm was sold in the 1970s. Before the sale, Chuck asked his grandmother to keep 50 acres with a spring aside for him. Now the retired biology… Read more
New Features Added to Nature Play Space
The New River Land Trust Nature Play Space in Heritage Park got some upgrades this spring and summer thanks to a grant from the Rotary Club of Blacksburg. These include: • 3 new handmade eastern cedar benches • A child-sized birdhouse decorated with art by George Wills • A nature… Read more
Virginia Program Helps Farmers and Environment
Governor Ralph Northam announced the availability of $73 million to protect water and soil health through the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program, which represents the largest-ever investment of state funding to assist farmers implementing conservation practices. The program has been updated to provide greater flexibility and reduce barriers… Read more
Brush Mountain Park Update
The New River Land Trust purchased the second of two properties that will make up the new 553-acre park on Brush Mountain in Blacksburg. The park will be home to multi-use trails for community recreation while protecting an ecologically sensitive area. We purchased the first property in 2018. The park… Read more
Youth Outreach Program Growing Strong
Exploring streams and discovering birds, making art with vegetables and flowers, and visiting a working farm to learn how food is grown—these are just some of the things kids in our area are doing this season with New River Land Trust’s Youth Outreach Program. We expanded our Stream Field Trips… Read more