Landlines November 2022 | Piedmont Land Conservancy

LANDLINES NOVEMBER 2022

A Good Steward

As of this April, Piedmont Land Conservancy has been in existence for thirty two years We’ve completed hundreds of projects and have now protected nearly 30,000 acres It would be hard to argue that anyone has had a greater role in those successes than Dr Kenneth A Bridle

Ken, and his wonderful wife Luann, got involved with PLC soon after its formation in 1990 He was working at SciWorks in Winston Salem and bumped into Kathy Treanor who told him about the land trust she was helping form. Soon after that conversation Ken was on the Board of Directors and chaired the Land Protection Committee for many years He completed Natural Heritage Inventories for several of our counties and has worked on numerous stream restoration projects

We started by contracting with Ken for his work, but in 2007, we got smart and asked Ken to join PLC’s staff as our first Director of Stewardship In that role, Ken has been responsible for visiting each protected property to ensure conservation values are being appropriately protected While PLC is always excited to announce a

Written by Kevin Redding, PLC Executive Director

new land protection project, in our world that’s just the beginning of a perpetual responsibility we take on Ken has been the point person for that responsibility in his role

Ken’s formal role is relatively simple to explain assessing the biological significance of potential projects, monitoring our growing portfolio of conservation easements, and managing the lands that PLC owns

Beyond this role, Ken has served as PLC’s conduit to many different communities across our region and state. He served on the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Non Game Advisory Committee He’s currently chairperson of the N C Native Plant Society Ken has been active and presented to numerous Audubon groups, butterfly enthusiasts, mushroom collectors, stream restoration professionals, and many more He was a founding member of the Dan River Basin Association Ken and Luann have long held roles supporting Hanging Rock State Park and Mayo River State Park Ken has helped with prescribed burns on various PLC protected sites

But more than all this, what is truly remarkable and unique about Ken, is his incredibly deep understanding about how nature functions and extensive knowledge about all its parts If you’ve ever taken a hike with him, and managed to keep up with his astonishingly long strides, there’s no doubt that you’ve learned a lot of fascinating information along the way That’s similar to how PLC has learned from Ken’s ecological expertise keeping up with his fast pace and incorporating all the science we can along the way

At its core, the basis for PLC’s land protection work is based on science how rare plants, unique habitats, and critical streams and wetlands protect nature’s vital functions for clean water, clean air, and healthy communities Many land trusts throughout the country have to contract experts to help identify these areas. At PLC, we just ask Ken.

The good news is that Ken is not fully retiring. As of July 1st, he has assumed a new part time role of Conservation Advisor. We’re very fortunate to have Mindy Mock assuming the Director of Stewardship position Stewardship is the key to PLC’s long term success and we’re grateful for all of Ken’s work in this area, and to have someone like Mindy ready to carry the program forward

The Dr. Kenneth A. Bridle Native Plant Fund

To recognize Ken’s incredible career, we have established the Dr. Kenneth A. Bridle Native Plant Fund. The simple goal of the fund will be to further Ken’s passion for protecting native plant communities The fund may be utilized in a variety of ways acquiring native plants to populate PLC’s nature preserves, managing PLC owned lands by removing invasive species to allow natives to thrive, or assisting with a conservation easement that will protect an important plant population

The short term goal for Ken’s Fund is $100,000, although we hope to grow it substantially beyond that in the coming years As of printing we’re very happy to announce that we’re nearly halfway there

PLC honored Ken with a bird sculpture by local artist Erik Beerbower to be installed at the Bird and Butterfly Meadow at Price Park Erik, a teacher at New Garden Friends School, has been making art for 35 years You will find his work around town, including a waterfall sculpture in downtown Greensboro and several large butterflies in Gateway Garden in east Greensboro

Ken atop Fisher's Peak, PLC protected land

Ken’s career has improved the landscape of the Piedmont, but he’s also improved the lives of those he's met His passion for and knowledge of the natural world continues to inspire people to change: to be more curious about the wonderous details of ecosystems, to have a greater reverence for mother nature, and to live a more thoughtful and sustainable way of life We are so grateful to benefit from Ken’s expertise as his fellow staff members, but we’re just as appreciative to benefit from his curiousity, integrity, and kindness as friends

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< Left: Ken educates a curious group on mushroom identification during a PLC outing 1

⌄ Below:

In Ken's Words

"I often cite the words of Aldo Leopold, a conservation pioneer in the early 1900’s He used the metaphor of repairing a watch, but it also applies to any do it yourself project: The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to save all the pieces My favorite metaphor is rebuilding a carburetor, which is something car owners used to do a lot

We are not doing a good job of saving pieces of Mother Nature or even knowing what they are Since I was in high school in the 1970’s, 60% of the animal life on earth has disappeared forever More recent publications show that North America has lost 3 billion native birds in the same period and in some places, 25% of plants are listed as becoming rare Whether your metaphor of choice is do it yourself tinkering, pulling threads from a sacred cloth, or removing blocks from a Jenga game, the ultimate result is the same

I am proud and thankful that I can work with the support of wonderful staff, board, and members of Piedmont Land Conservancy to help keep some special places and Mother Nature's gifts protected, respected, and functional for the future.

I could not have asked for a better career."

DR. KENNETH A. BRIDLE

^ Above:

Above: Ken on an annual stewardship visit to one of PLC's hundreds of conservation easements

Ken guides a hike on Black Walnut Bottoms Trail across PLC protected land in Historic Bethania during the annual Black Walnut Festival

Ken sharing the importance of native plants with future generations

Board

Each summer our family spends a weekend canning green beans. Lori and I both grew up doing this so we’re trying to carry on the tradition. As simple as it sounds, there’s nothing better than opening your home canned beans on a cold winter evening It’s half appreciation of the flavor and half for the hard work it took to prepare them

These beans are a good metaphor for PLC’s work With our natural beauty from the mountains to the coast, temperate climate, and vibrant urban areas, North Carolina continues to be an attractive place for people to live and work Our state is expected to reach 13 8 million people by 2050, up from 10 39 million this year (UNC Demography), far greater populations than our adjacent neighbors If we want to protect our farms, streams, wildlife, and trails we need to put in the hard work now. That’s exactly what your support does. It allows us to put in the hard work of land conservation so that in the years to come our children, grandchildren, and beyond, will be able to experience the same wonderful region that we have.

In the case of canning beans, it’s just one hot summer weekend It will take a little longer than that for PLC’s work, but the end result will be even greater

REDDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kevin Redding Kalen Kingsbury Ken Bridle Leah Cattanach

Brianna Haferman

Tesla Jefferson

Mindy Mock

Taylor Owens

Staff

William W. Truslow, MD

Matt Perry

Erika von Isenburg

Chris Wagner

Linda Beerman

Fred L Berry

James W Bryan Duane K. Bryant Doug Canavello David B Craft Mary Gill

Parker Huitt

Frankie T Jones, Sr

Mary Magrinat R. Scott McNeely Lynn Moseley

George Sweazey Steve Tate Steve Wright

Piedmont

Karrie Jo Manson Palmer McIntyre

Josh Horton

Emily Allen Wildflower Preserve Garden Manager

Janice Lancaster

KEVIN

Welcome Janice Lancaster, PLC's new Emily Allen Wildflower Preserve Garden Manager!

We are excited to welcome Janice Lancaster as PLC's new Garden Manager for Emily Allen Wildflower Preserve Janice combines a love of nature with her passion for dance When she returned to NC, her home state, to teach dance at Wake Forest University she landed at Emily Allen Wildflower Preserve where she has been volunteering with PLC

Her dance based research explores memory and sense of place avenues through which she creates collective meaning, community awareness, and participatory celebration for what we share You can see environmental themes in her choreography, dance films, and collaborations

At Wake Forest University she received support from the Office of Sustainability's Magnolias Curriculum Project to develop a dance ecology course for all movers, "Embodying Ecological Thought " This course offered a contemplative space for committing an embodied pace to environmental observations Some of her dance ecology students have made sculptural collage pieces and danced responses to litter collected from the Emily Allen Wildflower Preserve Monarcas Creek. Community organizing and an appreciation for our natural wonders factor heavily into Janice's work We are honored to have her join PLC's staff and family of volunteers as Garden Manager at the Emily Allen Wildflower Preserve

Trail building is underway

for the Stuart and Emma Thomas Memorial Trail | Winston-Salem

Thanks to many dedicated and generous donors, 92 acres of land have been protected forever by a conservation easement and are owned by the Crossnore School & Children's Home Now, ground has been broken and trail building is underway for the Stuart and Emma Thomas Memorial Trail

With a trailhead off Reynolda Road and another on Gillette Street, this public trail will connect the historic Boston Thurmond neighborhood established in the 1890's with the Buena Vista neighborhood The natural surface walking trail will wind its way through one of the most beautiful sites in Winston Salem, with views of the city as well as creeks, pastures, and trees The trail will be named for Stuart and Emma Thomas, and the trailhead on Gillette Street will be named for Dr Charles Hauser, an inspirational educator, legislator, and past resident of Boston Thurmond

When Andrea Thomas learned about plans for the trail, she knew that naming the trail for her late husband Stuart and their daughter Emma was the meaningful legacy that she had been looking for www.piedmontland.org/SEThomasTrail.

Through the passionate efforts of Andrea Thomas, her collaboration with PLC, and enthusiastic donors, we are close to the $250,000 goal which allows for construction and maintenance of the trail We hope to reach our goal by the end of November.

Want to help? Make your gift online or by check, and note that it is for the Thomas Trail. Thank you!

For progress updates on the Stuart & Emma Thomas Trail and information on how you can help, go to

^ PLC volunteers assemble a bridge for the Stuart & Emma Thomas Memorial Trail at Crossnore School & Children's Home

^ An aerial view of Caraway Creek Nature Preserve's new land addition with Mt Shepherd (another PLC protected property) in the distance.

PLC Acquires 69 Additional Acres for the future Caraway Creek Nature Preserve

Wooded acres and steep bluffs drop down to a historic rock dam along Caraway Creek at PLC’s future Caraway Creek Nature Preserve, where over 3 miles of trail will create opportunities for exercise, exploration, and wildlife viewing

PLC acquired the original 98 acres for Caraway Creek Nature Preserve in December of 2020. Volunteer crews from PLC and the Uwharrie Trailblazers have been working to build trail across the protected land On September 30th, PLC added 69 acres of adjacent land just west of Jericho Road, bringing the preserve’s total acreage up to 167 The latest addition was made possible by you, PLC's donors, and a provisional grant from the NC Land and Water Fund

Dr Ken Bridle said that the new addition was a key parcel to protect because it expands ecological diversity: “It has areas of mature trees in a nice tributary stream valley leading to Caraway Creek and a few open fields that provide wildflower and pollinator habitat My favorite part is the floodplain bottomland with lush wildflowers, native cane, and vernal pools for amphibians ”

PLC has protected 1,064 acres of land in the northern Uwharrie Mountains, all within a 2.5 mile radius of the future Caraway Creek Nature Preserve, including portions of Caraway Mountain, Mt. Shepherd, and Ridges Mountain, the highest peaks in the northern Uwharries This landscape scale conservation helps protect the ecological integrity of this important habitat for wildlife and aquatic life, like the six rare freshwater mussel species that call Caraway Creek home The future Caraway Creek Preserve will be the first PLC managed, public preserve in Randolph County After volunteer crews complete trail building efforts and PLC adds a small parking lot, signage, and benches, PLC plans to open the preserve in 2023, during North Carolina’s Year of the Trail! (See www GreatTrailsNC org)

Guilford County Funds Bandera Farms Park

In August, Guilford County Commissioners voted to allocate $2 3 million to make Bandera Farms Park a reality The funding comes from the $104 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding received by the County In December 2020, backed by a multi jurisdiction partnership, PLC purchased the 115 acre property that will become the park and has been shepherding the progress for the park's development Earlier this year PLC acquired an additional 4 acre tract and transferred both properties to the Town of Summerfield in July PLC has already secured $650,000 for the park through various grants These funds combined with the allocation from the County means that the construction of the park is fully funded!

Bandera Farms Park will host a network of natural surface trails for both equestrians and hikers, an adventure playground, picnic shelters, restrooms and a segment of the Piedmont Greenway, a planned 19 mile shared use path that will one day connect Greensboro and Winston Salem

“This park will have everything a good passive park should: Many ways for all kinds of users to enjoy, exercise, and explore, while also preserving the land’s key environmental benefits, like protecting Greensboro’s water quality, saving plant and wildlife habitat, and providing a place for people to get outside,” said Palmer McIntyre, PLC's conservation planner and leader for the Bandera Farms Park project

> Bandera Farms Park sits Northwest of the intersection of Bunch Road and I 73 in a rapidly growing area of Guilford County

Protecting Pathways for the Future

The phrase encompasses the work of Piedmont Land Conservancy and the impact our members make with their annual

As you consider the trails you walk, the rivers you paddle, the scenery you take in, the flowers and plants that greet you, the birds and wildlife that watch you from the edges of protected properties, we ask that you continue your support of PLC with a gift this fall.

Your gifts result in the protection of: rivers and streams family farms and farming communities ecologically significant natural areas strategic or culturally significant open spaces connecting people to nature providing education about our environment ensuring quick action on conservation opportunities.

and are an investment in:

Plus, your gifts are deployed efficiently Last year 88% of gifts to PLC went directly to the conservation of new properties, stewardship of previously protected properties, and educational activities

Season of Gratitude

We are extremely thankful for the passion our members show for protecting the richness and vitality of the North Carolina Piedmont, for now and the future