Please address general press inquiries to Cindy Sabato at [email protected] or 540-347-2334 x7021 — or to the point of contact listed in a specific press release. You can also get in touch with PEC on twitter: @piedmontenviron.
WARRENTON, VA. (Nov 1, 2025) – Finalists in The Piedmont Environmental Council’s 15th Annual Photo Contest have been selected and community members are now invited to view the images and vote for their favorites through Sunday, Nov. 16. To view the images and vote, visit pecva.org/photovote.
From among more than 700 entries, PEC staff and local professional photographers chose five finalists in each of four categories: Beautiful Landscapes and Streetscapes, Native Plants and Fungi, Wonderful Wildlife, and Youth. All finalists receive a one-year PEC membership and have their work featured in PEC’s upcoming online and/or print publications.
Chosen by community vote, the winners in each adult category will receive a $100 gift certificate to a nearby restaurant participating in PEC’s “Buy Fresh Buy Local” program. The Youth Category winner will receive their choice of a $100 gift card to a “Buy Fresh Buy Local” restaurant or a prepaid Visa card.
“The submissions to this year’s photo contest were absolutely amazing. These images help us tell important stories and connect people with this beautiful place in new and exciting ways. Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo,” said Hugh Kenny, PEC’s multimedia communications specialist and contest coordinator.
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2024 Photo Winners:
Beautiful Landscapes: Luke Christopher, of Little Washington in Rappahannock, for “Looking down from Red Oak Mountain.” Caption: “Looking down from Red Oak Mt. on Shiloh church.”
Wonderful Wildlife: Dorothy Kray of The Plains in Fauquier County, for “Fool Me Once.” Caption: “We all have that one sibling!
Native Plants and Fungi: Jim Emery of Ashburn in Loudoun County, for “Snow-Capped Oyster Mushrooms.” Caption: “Snow-capped oyster mushrooms growing on a tree after moderate snowfall in Ashburn.”
Youth Category: Alden Peterson of The Plains in Fauquier County, for “Rainy Nasturtium.” Caption: “Rainy Nasturtium at Chancellor’s Rock Farm Garden, Rappahannock County, Va”
The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) works to protect and restore the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. Founded in 1972, PEC is a locally based, community-supported 501(c)3 nonprofit and accredited land trust. At the core of PEC’s approach is a focus on educating, engaging and empowering people to effect positive change in their communities.
Billions of dollars of new power generation and transmission infrastructure is needed to meet data center demand. As of now, all of Virginia’s ratepayers are on the hook to pay for this through their electric bills.
On an appropriately sunny Friday afternoon, Oct. 17, more than 70 community members came together at The Piedmont Environmental Council’s Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows to officially “cut the ribbon” on Virginia’s first crop-based agrivoltaics project.
Entering its fifth year, the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative is a collaborative effort of The Piedmont Environmental Council, Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes, Quail Forever, American Farmland Trust, and Shenandoah Valley Conservancy working together with landowners and farmers to restore grassland habitat using “regenerative” agricultural practices tested by farmers and researchers alike, proving to benefit both birds and agricultural operations. Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, VGBI provides tools and technical assistance and pays farmers up to $35 per acre in exchange for: 1) delaying the first cut of hay until July 1 or later; and/or 2) rotating livestock out of select fields between April 15 and July 1 or later. Farmers can learn more about the program and apply at: vagrasslandbirds.org/incentives/.
VGBI was formed in response to the 53% decline in the 60 species of native grassland birds that have adopted hayfields and pasturelands as surrogate habitat as native grasslands have suffered more intense impact by humans than any other land-based ecosystem in North America. Since 2021, 57 farmers have formally enrolled over 3,600 acres of land into the financial incentives program, while another 37 have participated voluntarily, without the financial incentives, adding another 3,700 acres of land supporting nesting grassland birds.
“Delayed haying until at least July 1 is a game change for birds, because it allows them to fledge at least one successful clutch of young. But it also lets producers strategically spread out labor requirements during the hay cutting season, and the higher fiber, more mature hay resulting from delayed haying is good for feeding dry cows, horses, and retired animals, as well as for mushroom hay and bedding,” said Lauria McShane, PEC’s VGBI assistant.
Rotating livestock out of certain fields in early spring is called summer pasture stockpiling, and it “bridges the summer dormancy gap by providing standing forage in late summer without the risk and expense of planting summer annuals. Stockpiling also allows fields to rest for fall or winter stockpiling with the goal of reducing the days that hay is fed and, therefore, reducing annual feed cost,” McShane said.
On Francis McGuigan’s farm in Greene County, “the results were dramatic,” he said, pointing out a flock of at least 30 goldfinches perched atop vegetation enjoying seedheads from the field on a recent check-in with McShane that’s part of the incentives program. He said that in the past, he’d only see a couple of goldfinches fly over the field in any given year. “Not only did the bird population increase, but so did the insect, small mammal and amphibian populations. We saw and heard the results all summer. I’m proud that my small farm is supporting ecosystem expansion and resilience through VGBI’s summer pasture stockpiling program,” McGuigan said.
In Albemarle County, Michelle McKenzie enrolled Bellair Farm in both the delayed haying and summer pasture stockpiling programs in 2024. The increase in grassland birds has been so significant that McKenzie has hosted bird walks with the Virginia Society of Ornithology’s Piedmont Bird Club. “I would absolutely recommend this program to others. Interacting with the VGBI staff has also provided networking opportunities and discussions about other programs that we’re getting involved in,” McKenzie said. Those include four kestrel boxes and a barn owl box, which McShan monitors in spring and summer.
Monte Vista Farm in Greene County had 295 enrolled in VGBI’s delayed haying incentive program this summer, while another 40 acres on the outskirts of the hayfields have been converted into pollinator fields. “Happily, the new owners of Monte Vista Farm have the property primarily for wildlife habitat, and they’re already committed to delayed haying for the entire property going forward,” McShane said.
Producers can meet Virginia’s grassland birds and learn more about best management practices for birds, native plantings for quail, nesting boxes for American kestrel, streamside plantings for wildlife and water quality, and more at: https://www.vagrasslandbirds.org/resources/
The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) works to protect and restore the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. Founded in 1972, PEC is a locally based, community-supported 501(c)3 nonprofit and accredited land trust. At the core of PEC’s approach is a focus on educating, engaging and empowering people to effect positive change in their communities.
The Piedmont Environmental Council is calling on community volunteers who love to get their hands dirty to join in any of three upcoming volunteer tree planting projects in October and November.
On Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 5-7 p.m., community members are invited to a free Conservation Funding Workshop and Social to learn about funding and technical assistance available to them for land management and conservation options.
The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) celebrates court rejection of attempts to dismiss a lawsuit against the Wilderness Crossing rezoning proposal in Orange County.
alling all professional and amateur photographers. Now through September 30, you’re invited to submit your best images of the beautiful Virginia Piedmont for The Piedmont Environmental Council’s 16th Annual Photo Contest.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Registration is now open for Loop de ‘Ville (LDV) Trail Fest on September 27 and t-shirts are available for pre-order. Learn more about this celebration of the outdoors and register now at loopdeville.org.
There are several ways to participate, including several new options highlighted:
Run, hike or bike the Loop with a guided group (20 miles, all paces).
New: Run the Half-Loop from Fontaine Research Park to Rivanna River Company. Runners will be shuttled from the Rivanna River Company to Fontaine Research Park to begin their run from there.
New: Hike the Half-Loop from Fontaine Research Park to Rivanna River Company. Hikers will be shuttled from the Rivanna River Company to Fontaine Research Park to begin their hike from there.
New: Walk the Mini Loop, a three-mile inclusive walk/roll that will be suitable for all people of all abilities, led by the Piedmont Environmental Council. It will follow the Rivanna River and highlight trail and stewardship projects along the urban Rivanna River corridor.
Celebrate the trails at the Finish Line Party at Rivanna River Company — FREE and open to the public. DJ Double U will be spinning all day so the Finish Line Party is lively for all finishers. There will be food trucks, beer and cider available for purchase. Alcohol and merch sales will directly benefit the Rivanna Trails Foundation.
Volunteer — RTF needs folks to help with registration/check-in, the many Cheer Zones, parking, raffle ticket sales, leading/sweeping hiking groups, and more. Volunteer sign-up is open!
Sponsor / Donate — Help RTF put on an amazing, safe and enjoyable event for everyone!
More than 20 years ago, RTF members decided to lead a guided hike on the ~20-mile loop of the Rivanna Trail – now known as the Loop – that encircles Charlottesville. It soon became an annual tradition and has continued for decades. Previously open only to members of the RTF, the event eventually opened to the public and has since turned into a festival to celebrate the trail, connect the community and introduce newcomers to this incredible resource in our backyards. Local organizations work year-round to support the trail system in Charlottesville and Albemarle County and this event is a great opportunity to showcase those efforts and the benefits they provide to the community.
RTF’s goal is to put on a fun event and remove barriers so community members can join LDV in a way that is welcoming and safe. If that means just spending time at the Rivanna River Company in community with others (starting at 12 p.m.), that’s great! We’ve also added several new options to enjoy the trail for different lengths, speeds and abilities this year. We’d be happy to share what LDV is all about. This is a ‘made by the community for the community’ event so, we are counting on you to help make this the best Loop de ‘Ville Fest yet!
Please note that t-shirts are only available for pre-order on the event’s Movemint page. Sign up for LDV-specific emails to be kept up to date.
The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) works to protect and restore the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. Founded in 1972, PEC is a locally based, community-supported 501(c)3 nonprofit and accredited land trust. At the core of PEC’s approach is a focus on educating, engaging and empowering people to effect positive change in their communities.
