The Nature Conservancy Set to Re-Open
Popular Virginia Preserve Damaged in 2011 Storms
Voorhees Nature Preserve Is Active Roosting Ground for the American Bald Eagle
What: A ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the re-opening of the Voorhees Nature Preserve, a TNC preserve in eastern Virginia that was closed to the public after Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee swept through in 2011.
When: Monday, April 29 at 10 a.m. (Rain or shine)
Where: Park at the preserve entrance sign, located just before the Westmoreland Berry Farm store (1235 Berry Farm Lane, Colonial Beach, Va., 22443). The group will then walk about a quarter of a mile to the trail’s bridge for brief remarks. After remarks, reporters have the option of taking a guided tour of the rest of the trail.
(Note: Because of the distance between the parking lot and the bridge, large cameras will be difficult to carry. B-roll will be available after the event.)
Who: Michael Lipford, Virginia Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy
Susan Hunt, Daughter of Alan Voorhees, who donated the preserve to TNC in 1994
Leib Kiminsky of the Student Conservation Association
Jennifer Kostyniuk of Dominion Virginia Power
Additional Virginia Chapter TNC staff
When Tropical Storm Lee and Hurricane Irene assailed the east coast in 2011 with heavy rainfall and high-speed winds, The Nature Conservancy’s Voorhees Nature Preserve sustained considerable damage: the bridge leading to the trail was rendered unusable and part of the trail itself washed away. The Nature Conservancy repaired the bridge and sections of the damaged trail thanks to generous support from the Voorhees family and grant from Dominion Virginia Power. Volunteers from Dominion and an experienced trail crew from the SCA helped with the repairs and reconstruction. The beautiful preserve is adjacent to the Westmoreland Berry Farm, a popular destination for families, and is home to bald eagles, pileated woodpeckers and is a layover for a number of migratory songbirds.
# # #
Photo by Daniel White, The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working around the world to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org/
The Nature Conservancy works to protect our lands and waters in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, from the mountains and forests to the coasts, Chesapeake Bay, and Atlantic Ocean. Throughout the region we connect people with nature.
