Conservation Partnerships Lead to Historic Battlefield Protection “We’re the luckiest landowners in the world and have been here for 42 years. We enjoy the tranquility that we’ve had the pleasure experiencing here and we want others to continue enjoying it when we’re gone.”
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–The landowners statement
he Land Trust of Virginia (LTV), the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association (VPHA) and the Piedmont Fox Hounds Conservation Fund (PFHCF) have announced the protection of 137 acres in Loudoun County in the village of Unison. The landowners have donated a permanent conservation easement to LTV, ensuring that this open farmland, with its historic and highly visible landscapes, will remain intact and free from development pressure. The VPHA contributed to the stewardship costs associated with the easement with a distribution from its Janet Whitehouse Fund, established in 2013 in honor of one of the organization’s principal founders, to further their mission to preserve the historic landscape. The LTV also provided funding through its Deborah Whittier Fitts Battlefield Stewardship Fund, and additional funds were provided by the PFHCF. The property is entirely within the core of the Civil War‘s Battle of Unison, fought between Oct.. 31 and Nov. 2, 1862, and is entirely within the Unison Battlefield Historic District, listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. The property contains a beautiful springhouse dating to 1840, which is listed as a contributing resource to the Historic District. In addition, the property is also partially within the study area for the Civil War Battle of Upperville (June, 1863). It is also listed as being part of the Loudoun County designated Beaverdam Creek Historic Roadways District, the County’s only Historic Roadways District. “We’re extremely excited to be able to contribute towards the preservation of this invaluable local historic resource located in the heart of the Heritage Area,” said Alexander Nance, executive director of VPHA. Natural resources now protected include 107.5 acres of soils defined as ‘Prime Farmland Soils” or “Farmland Soils of Statewide Importance,” 57 acres of forest
This 137-acre easement in Unison was the 247th conservation easement recorded by the Land Trust of Virginia. classified as having “high” conservation value by the Virginia Department of Forestry’s Forest Conservation Value model, 0.44 miles of Beaverdam Creek, and 0.56 miles of intermittent tributaries to Beaverdam Creek. “Community partnerships with organizations like VPHA and PFHCF, are critical to ensuring the protection of our nation’s history,” said Ashton Cole, executive director of LTV. And, Dulany Morison, chair of PFHCF, added, “This beautiful property is integral to the Unison Battlefield, Piedmont hunt territory, and historic environs of Quaker Lane and we are overjoyed to know it’s now permanently protected with a conservation easement.” Details: For more information about the LTV’s work, please visit http://www. landtrustva.org. For more information about VPHA, please visit https://www. piedmontheritage.org/. For more information about PFHCF, please visit https:// pfhconservationfund.org/.
Dedicated to preserving open space in service to the community and to advancing equestrian sport. Nestled in the heart of Virginia's Piedmont countryside, Great Meadow is a 380-acre field events center and steeplechase course operated under stewardship of the Great Meadow Foundation.
Visit www.GreatMeadow.org
Country ZEST & Style | Holiday 2023
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