eopold’s Preserve includes several miles of trails and boardwalks.
Guest Writers: Aland Rowsome, Matt Gerhart and Aaron Kershaw
Northern Virginia Conservation Trust’s (NVCT) new preserve was protected through a unique avenue that may surprise and inspire partners: working directly with developers. Perched in the rolling landscapes of outer Northern Virginia, Leopold’s Preserve is a rare find. It bears the name of the conservationist Aldo Leopold. This 380-acre natural haven is a testament to the rare harmony between human progress and environmental conservation.
Leopold’s Preserve is located within the Villages of Piedmont in Haymarket, Virginia, and embodies Aldo Leopold’s ethos of a deeper connection with the natural world. Visitors and residents alike have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a landscape shaped by Leopold’s principles of conservation and stewardship. Leopold’s belief in the inherent value of nature and the necessity of preserving wild spaces for future generations reverberates throughout the preserve.
Juxtaposing denser development with larger areas of open space has provided major community benefits at Leopold’s Preserve.
The project started when Equinox Investments, LLC, the visionary developer behind the Villages of Piedmont, committed to safeguarding the natural integrity of the land in 2014. They preserved 70 percent of the landscape (380 acres) in perpetuity through a conservation easement held by the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust, ensuring Leopold’s vision would endure. The developer, Scott Plein, believed that clustering homes closer together rather than building on larger lots would preserve more habitat while allowing residents and the local community to enjoy a large nature preserve in their backyards.
“Leopold’s Preserve was an innovative, far-reaching dream ten years ago that has only become a better idea as the years have gone by,” said NVCT Executive Director Alan Rowsome. “Though there is always tension between development and land protection in urban areas, Leopold tells us that working together yields better results than being at constant odds.”
Restored wetlands are also part of the attractions on site, observed here by NVCT staff Matt Gerhart and Alan Rowsome.
Today, Plein’s White House Farm Foundation (WHFF) owns and stewards the Preserve, which, under his leadership, has become a haven for biodiversity and outdoor recreation. Its network of walking trails loops through forests, meadows and streams, offering visitors a glimpse into the region’s natural heritage. In addition, the foundation partners with local organizations like Bull Run Mountain Conservancy and Northern Virginia Conservation Trust to provide educational opportunities and pilot wildlife management programs.
WHFF’s educational programs provide valuable insights into Leopold’s Preserve’s ecological significance. Guided nature walks, wildlife workshops and conservation seminars allow participants to deepen their understanding of the delicate balance between human activity and the environment.
There are many environmental benefits of preserving 380 acres of natural open space, especially as data centers and rapid development are quickly changing the landscape of Prince William County. Additionally, Leopold’s Preserve plays a crucial role in mitigating the impacts of climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and preserving critical habitats for threatened and endangered species.
A visitor kiosk laying out the community’s trails for residents and the public.
The partnership between conservationists and developers that made Leopold’s Preserve possible stands as an example of what can be achieved when sometimes conflicting interests unite in pursuit of a common goal. The White House Farm Foundation and the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust remain close partners nearly a decade after the project began, protecting the beautiful preserve for all time and continuing to bring attention to the importance of its legacy.
As visitors traverse the winding trails of Leopold’s Preserve, they experience firsthand Aldo Leopold’s legacy and the enduring power of conservation in this sanctuary of nature. Where the past meets the present and the future takes root, Leopold’s spirit lives on.
More photos of Leopold’s Preserve can be found here.
Image credit:
- Northern Virginia Conservation Trust
- Northern Virginia Conservation Trust
- Ben Alexandro, Chesapeake Conservation Partnership
- Northern Virginia Conservation Trust
Lightning Update is a regular communication of the Chesapeake Conservation Partnership. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect positions of the Partnership or member organizations.
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Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Virginia Outdoors Foundation
US Fish & Wildlife Service
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