Carolyn Smith’s Madison County property has been on quite the journey since her parents first purchased the former cattle operation in 1965. Donating a 129-acre conservation easement in late 2023 came on the heels of decades of successful land stewardship by Carolyn, her parents, and a community of partners who have worked to restore and repair the land for wildlife habitat, pollinators and native plants.
PEC Conservation Funds
Land conservation funds managed by The Piedmont Environmental Council or Piedmont Foundation.
On The Ground Updates – December 2023
A series of short land use and conservation updates from around the PEC region.
On The Ground Updates – September 2023
A series of short updates from around the PEC region.
Cost-Share Programs for Land Management
Learn about funding options for land management activities on your property.
Sources of Conservation Funding (free workshop and social)
Join John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Fauquier County’s Conservation Easement Program, and The Piedmont Environmental Council for a workshop to explore tools and sources of funding for conservation easements and land management
A Neighborhood Conservation Effort along South River
In Greene County, a community-wide effort to protect land along the South River has been underway for nearly two decades. In 2022, a critical 140-acre multi-generational cattle farm was added to the tapestry of this corridor with a conservation easement generously donated to PEC by Mr. Laymon Breeden, who wanted to protect the farm in part to honor his father.
The Sperryville Trail Network: Uniting a Community and Creating a Sense of Place
You may have driven through Sperryville on your way to the Thornton Gap entrance to Shenandoah National Park. But this historic village is much more than just a place to pass through, and I found the Sperryville Trail Network to be the perfect tour guide
Clarke County Land Conservation Fund
The Clarke Fund works in partnership with numerous organizations and employs a variety of strategies to ensure conservation resources are protected for future generations.
Sperryville Trail Network
With funding provided by PEC’s Krebser Fund for Rappahannock County Conservation, the Sperryville Community Alliance has been able to complete a Trail Study and Invasive Species Management Plan.
2022 Highlights
Learn about our efforts to expand conservation and restoration efforts, empower local communities, invest in public access, and connect consumers to local farms in 2022.