Willowsford Conservancy

Willowsford Conservancy is the steward of over 2,300 acres of open space, set aside for conservation, recreation, education, and agricultural use. Fresh food production from sustainable and organic farming; recreation opportunities though access to nature trails, campsites, forests and wetlands that support diverse native wildlife and vegetation; and the Conservancy's land stewardship programs-including habitat restoration, wildlife management, and invasive species control-contribute positively to the region's quality of life. All of these programs are brought to life for residents and the greater community through events and educational offerings as well as frequent volunteer opportunities. In 2023, 388 volunteers supported the land stewardship team's efforts to remove invasive species, clear trails, and monitor streams, blue birds and other wildlife (1,338 hours). An additional 42 volunteers supported the farm team's efforts through egg washing, csa share packing, and csa pick up amongst other activities (1,260 hours). Farming in support of its mission for long-term protection and viable use of the land, the Conservancy follows organic farming practices that enhance the ecological resources of the land and are integrated with the residential life of the community, education, and conservation activities. Sustainable agriculture provides fresh, nourishing food for Willowsford residents and the local community, and supports the Conservancy's conservation efforts. The farm also plays an active role in the greater community, supporting local agriculture and artisanal food production, food literacy, healthy nutrition, and a vibrant place for building community. In 2023, Willowsford farm sold over 396 unique shares in its community supported agriculture (csa) program, including vegetables, eggs, and flowers, in addition to supporting families through an online farm store platform. About one third of the csa members continue to be non-residends from outside Willowsford. While many customers pick up at our two locations, the farm also uses a refrigerated delivery van to bring csa shares and items purchased from the online store directly to peoples' doorsteps. The farm donated excess produce to loudoun hunger relief-a local non-profit often during the peak growing season. Occasionally eggs were donated to two local fire stations. Farm volunteer opportunities and program activities encourage families to engage hands-on and learn about sustainable agriculture and food production. The farm hosts volunteer activities as noted above, but also holds programs such as those focused on nutrition and culinary arts, in partnership with the hoa's chef, and leads wagon farm tours. One school field trip was held at the farm. The farm stand hosted a large harvest- themed market in october 2023 which will become an annual event. The land stewardship program collaborates with other non-profits and government agencies to carry out conservation projects to benefit the local ecosystem and also to educate the public and residents about conservation efforts. The Conservancy continues to offer hands-on, site-specific education programs and events for adults and children related to environmental stewardship, land conservation, and responsible outdoor recreation. Through these activities, the Conservancy aims to facilitate informed decision-making and inspire people to become lifelong advocates for environmental sustainability, conservation and healthy lifestyles. Willowsford Conservancy offers outdoor environmental education programs for all ages to cultivate citizen stewardship, environmental literacy and a deep emotional connection to the natural world. Providing residents with resources to create and manage environmentally friendly home landscapes contributes positively to overall habitat health and connectivity not only at Willowsford, but in the region. Through partnerships with organizations including banshee reeks nature preserve, the Virginia department of game and inland fisheries, the department of forestry, the smithsonian conservation biology institute, loudoun wildlife Conservancy (lwc), blue ridge wildlife center, piedmont environmental council and others, the Conservancy receives insights and builds expertise on how it can best promote native habitat and wildlife in the community. An important area of land stewardship is reforestation and habitat improvement to assure healthy forest continue to flourish at Willowsford. In october, we worked with loudoun wildlife Conservancy (lwc), using grant funding for planting 300 native trees and shrubs in the greens to protect the watershed around bull run stream. The Conservancy also is working to restore grasslands and wetlands. With lwc, the bluebird nest box monitoring program continued in 2023 with two nesting box trails in the grange and grove villages, for people to learn about local cavity nesters, and to support native songbirds with habitat and nesting sites. Residents volunteered their time monitoring and maintaining the nesting boxes and trail loops. In 2023, the Conservancy offered over 30 programs serving more than 1,900 individuals. Most were delivered by the land stewardship team, many by the farm team, and a small number in collaboration with partner organizations. A few thousand people visited the farm stand and our harvest market event. Key educational programs led by the land team included foraging classes, nature programs such as a butterfly walk, amphibian walk, various guided hikes, an earth day event, and fishing classes. While the farm-related programs included farm tours, summer camp at the farm, and visits from the students participating in the hoa culinary program. Activities at the farm stand included an opening day kick off, a back to school event, harvest market, and a potluck celebration. In addition, multiple volunteer events were held throughout the year with opportunities to volunteer with Willowsford farm and the land stewardship team. A notable volunteer event was the let's talk trash event where community members picked up trash throughout the neighborhood. The farm also worked with volunteers to clear fencing and remove vegetation. The 2022-23 season of the Conservancy deer management program successfully ended on january 14, 2023. Completing its 7th year, the program has an excellent safety and harvest record. A total of 125 deer were harvested this season (compared to 130 last year), with 115 being antlerless and 10 antlered deer. 47% of deer harvested in the 2022-23 season were by archery compared to approx. One third last year. Outdoor recreation outdoor recreation programs and events enrich Willowsford's sense of community and healthy lifestyle. The Conservancy continues to make significant investments in the construction and management of the trail system, which includes 40 miles of naturalized trails for recreational and educational use. The improvements included signage, maps and smart phone app for orientation and information, guided trail walks, and amenities that facilitate the use of the trails. Conservancy amenities, including the hidden meadow event field & group campsite, cedar pond pavilion, a recreational archery range, and the grant campsite. They all provide opportunities and venues for outdoor recreation, community engagement and education, encouraging families to camp, hike, bike, observe wildlife, and explore the outdoors. The Conservancy partners with local chapters of boy scouts of america and girl scouts of the usa to promote outdoor ethics and conservation. One of the main tenets in scouting is to give back to the community in the form of service. The Conservancy teams up with the scouts to provide opportunities to perform trail maintenance, wildlife habitat restoration and conservation projects. Operations staff completed a new web site to educate local citizens, communicate with our residents, and share information about our work. The site includes a calendar of events, information on land conservation and creating a backyard habitat, sustainable farming, as well as our local ecosystem and wildlife. The Conservancy board of trustees spent most of 2023 working with staff to start implementing the strategic plan. This primarily focused on capital expenditure projects and staffing. The board hired a new executive director in may 2023. A new programs & engagement coordinator and ranger also started in 2023.