Tregaron Conservancy

In 2023, the Tregaron Conservancy continued to pursue its mission to restore, rehabilitate and maintain its historically landmarked property, inspired by landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman's original, early 20th century designs, for the benefit of the public. The Conservancy's landscape stewardship work in 2023 included the following: planting predominantly native trees, shrubs, and perennials in historically inspired "wild gardens; restoring and reconstructing stone features; repairing fences; maintaining trails; improving storm-water management; and clearing non-native vines and other invasive species. The Conservancy continued to enhance and manage its native grass and wildflower meadows. The Conservancy also worked with its arborist and professional maintenance crew to analyze tree health and undertake tree care and pruning. Extensive tree removal work was performed, as nine canopy trees were lost in a major storm in July 2023. The Conservancy's stewardship and historic rehabilitation work was performed under staff supervision, based on guidance in its cultural landscape report, and pursuant to an annual management calendar. The Conservancy landscape remained open to the public every day, dawn to dusk during 2023. The Conservancy offered a wide variety of well-attended community programs free of charge in 2023, including bird walks, landscape design/history tours, forest bathing walks, music performances, and programs for families, including guided nature walks and story-time. The Conservancy hosted visits by over 500 students from under-resourced communities participating in the Horizons Greater Washington summer camp program and from the local public elementary school. The Conservancy also maintained a robust volunteer service program, with hundreds of hours contributed by volunteers, both adults and students.