Loudoun’s Wild Places Margaret Morton
mmorton@leesburgtoday.com
GemsOf
Old Mill Boarding Kennel is now offering Group Playtime and Tails on Trails for dogs of all shapes and sizes. Let your dog play while you are away! Seven Days A Week. HAPPY DOGS ARE HEALTHY DOGS 91 Lawson Rd SE Leesburg, VA 20175
703-777-4183
Call today or check website to find out about playtime packages.
www.Oldmillpets.com
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In a county of approximately 330,000 people and rapid suburban development, the acreage of Loudoun wildlife habitats that is open to the public is a surprise and delight to residents and visitors alike. The interest in the natural environment of the county—and the push to protect and conserve its dwindling flora and fauna—is in large part due to the determination of naturalist Joe Coleman and Diane Gilliam and Leslie Metzger in founding the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy in 1995. Since then, the nonprofit has grown to a strong volunteer force that has held countless educational seminars and lectures, conducted stream monitoring programs, held programs in Loudoun schools and worked with similar organizations to become an effective advocate for the environment. From migratory bird and butterfly counts, expanding bluebird nesting box trails, conducting field trips to promotion of native plants in the environLoudoun ment and habitat and stream restoration, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has been active around the county, particularly at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship and Morven Park. A five-year project to create a Loudoun County Bird Atlas wraps up this year. Contact: www.loudounwildlife.org. The county’s purchase and use of the 725-acre Banshee Reeks Preserve as a passive
park in the late 1990s was actively promoted by LWC. Located on The Woods Road southeast of Leesburg, the preserve is a quiet haven for a diversity of wildlife, including beaver, deer, foxes, hawks, bluebirds, tree swallows, butterflies and bats. Its habitats include wetlands and ponds, along with hardwood forests of oak and hickory and meadows laden with milkweed, goldenrod and thistle. Visitors can hike the 20 miles of trails any weekend from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Maps are available at the visitor center, exterior kiosk and on the Internet. Contact: 703-669-0316, www.loudoun.gov/index. aspx?NID=1277 In the western part of the county, the 900-acre Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship in Neersville is a working farm, purchased in 1999 and owned by the Robert and Dee Legget Foundation. Seven trails interwine along the wooded ridge, providing mountain hikes as well as lower walks through farmland overlooking a wildlife pond, valley views and pastures as well as old farmsteads and Piney Run. Turtles, woodpecker, deer and cranes are seen on the trails. It’s a great place for young kids and families as well as active grandparents. The center also has its share of colorful butterflies. Contact; www.blueridgecenter.org. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s most recent and important partnership is with Morven Park, where LWC is taking over responsibility for building and maintaining trails on 350 acres of wooded ridge, to ensure the protection of native plans and wildlife, restore habitats and improve access to the area, which includes migratory birds, vernal pools, wood frogs, eastern box turtles, coyotes and deer. It also is the only place in Loudoun where the “White M” butterfly has been documented.
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