We hope you enjoy this issue of Saving Nearby Nature from the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust . Let us know if you have any questions or suggestions.

        Northern Virginia Conservation Trust

    Saving Nearby Nature                           April 2017

Share your TREE photos throughout April during "Earth Month"
News                                                Read about nearby nature
Celebrating Earth Day with volunteer cleanup, upcoming program
Last year's cleanup netted about 1,000 pounds of trash

Sun., April 23: Potomac River Watershed Cleanup at Annandale Community Park, sponsored by NVCT. It's not too late to volunteer! Trash cleanup, 9 a.m. to noon, 4030 Hummer Rd., Annandale. For ages 14 to adult, and 7-13 if a parent is present. Work in the park and/or in the stream, a shallow stem of Accotink Creek. See our volunteer page for more information. (The event will be held rain or shine. In the event of extreme weather, any scheduling changes will be posted to our volunteer page by 7am on Sunday.)
 
Wed., May 10: The Geology of Northern Virginia and Vicinity, with Rod Simmons , Natural Resource Manager and Plant Ecologist for the City of Alexandria. NVCT is one of several co-sponsors, and the program will be held at the Huntley Meadows Park Visitor Center, 7:30 p.m. See our program and events page. 
NVCT Executive Director Announces Retirement by end of year  

Peggy Stevens, NVCT's executive director, says she is "ready to transition into retirement" by the end of 2017. Gary Kirkbride, chairman of the NVCT Board of Directors, announced her retirement, saying , " The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust has benefited from and enjoyed Peggy's leadership as our Executive Director these past four years. NVCT has achieved many milestones with Peggy in the lead. She plans to stay connected to the work of land conservation in Northern Virginia in a volunteer capacity, and will continue as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Virginia United Land Trusts beyond her NVCT retirement date." 

The Board of Directors is working to identify the next leader and ensure a smooth transition, and Peggy expects to be available to assist with knowledge transfer as the new person begins. The NVCT Board members serving on the search committee, chaired by Kirkbride, are David Beaver, Susan Smith Blakely, Richard Bliss, John Hopewell, Nancy Hyde, and Ranjit Singh. The position is posted on our website.  
Conservation landowners honored at NVCT event 

NVCT saluted conservation landowners at the March 30 lunch event, "Delight the Palate and Nourish the Land," a focus on working lands and local food. Chef Cathal Armstrong, of Restaurant Eve in Alexandria, was the keynote speaker, and Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Basil Gooden also offered remarks. Nine properties placed in conservation easement were recognized: Patric Copeland and Maura Walsh-Copeland; Steven Cox and Avis Renshaw; George and Holly Heffner; Julie Hogan; Marc and Janna Leepson; Gary and Betty Patrick; David and Nancy Phillips; Matthew Scott and the Community in Hillsboro; and Scott and Kelley Shreffler.
It's #TREEmendousApril throughout Earth Month  

NVCT has been collecting favorite shots of trees and posting on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/nvct.org. We invite you to join in. Post or tweet your tree photos using the hashtag #TREEmendousApril. Or email us your favorites and we'll include the pix on our page. The key to social media is to reach beyond our own circle, so please encourage your colleagues, family and friends to share! Thanks to those who have already "liked" our posts. Check out our Facebook page throughout April and beyond. And remember, you don't need your own Facebook account to view the page.  
Please contact us with any questions about the Trust and our work
703-354-5093  |  4022-A Hummer Rd. Annandale, VA 22003  | email info@nvct.org