Friends of Ivy Creek April Newsletter

Ivy Creek News and Notes: Earth Day 2020

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In This Issue:

Special Message

Visiting Ivy Creek Natural Area

Milestones

50 Years of Earth Day

Historic River View Farm Farmhouse: A Work in Progress

Get Involved

Become a Friend of Ivy Creek

Special Message

Visiting Ivy Creek Natural Area

Your friends at the Ivy Creek Foundation hope that this message finds you safe and well. As our community confronts the extraordinary challenge of COVID-19, we want you to know that our trails remain open. But to keep the trails open, please practice social distancing. Be considerate by stepping off the trails as needed to allow at least 6 feet for safe passage with other trail users.

If you are unable to visit in person here are several ways to enjoy Ivy Creek from afar:

Follow along with an audio tour. Former ICF Director Dede Smith has put together a series of these tours for you to enjoy for free. They are available at https://izi.travel/en/search/ivy%20creek. The latest of these is called "Walking with Bess" and features the recorded observations of ICF's first Coordinator, Bess Murray.
Go on a video tour. The Terrain360 website features series of panoramic pictures taken along seven of ICNA's trails: https://www.terrain360.com/map/ivy-creek-natural-area/visual#5/38.09/-78.5
Check out our blog. Our Director of Education, Catherine Boston, has been updating it with observations she and others have made. Have a look at https://ivycreekfoundation.org/blog. Here are a couple of samples:

These rue anemones were blooming along the Red Trail at the end of March. Photo: Catherine Boston

This pileated woodpecker was very busy making his home (also along the Red Trail) on April 9. Photo: Bob Gore

Milestones

50 Years of Earth Day

Fifty years ago on April 22, the first Earth Day was held. It was originally conceived as a student teach-in, which is why April 22 was chosen - it was a weekday between spring break and final exams. However, the potential for it to be an event for all ages was quickly realized, and the first Earth Day brought out 20 million Americans. Since then, Earth Day has gone global and is widely recognized as the largest secular observance in the world, with more than a billion participants.

At Ivy Creek Foundation, we celebrate Earth Day every day by pursuing our vision: To inspire awareness of human interaction with our environment and engage others in stewardship of our natural and cultural history. How have you observed Earth Day this year?

Photo credit: Bob Gore

Historic River View Farm Farmhouse: A Work in Progress

Work to stabilize and repair the historic River View Farm farmhouse began March 31 and is continuing as of this writing. The primary emphasis is on replacing the roof, but the project has also included temporarily shoring up the porch, rear lean-to, and an outbuilding, stabilization of some deteriorated wood, and various minor repairs. We are so grateful to the Albemarle County and City of Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Departments for funding this work! The pictures below were furnished by Albemarle County's Senior Project Manager, Montie Breeden.

Work began by removal of the old (but not original) roofing.

The front porch was shored up.

New roof panels were applied.

Get Involved

Become a Friend of Ivy Creek

We need your help! One way you can help is by making a donation. Like other non-profits and small businesses, ICF is feeling a financial impact from COVID-19. ICF depends upon the generosity of friends, members, and visitors. While we are currently unable to offer our usual guided field trips to children, programming for people of all ages, and use of our education building for our many partner organizations, we are planning and looking forward to the day that we can reopen. Your support can help us prepare for that day. You can become a Friend of Ivy Creek online at https://ivycreekfoundation.org/membership.

Rochelle

rochelle@ivycreekfoundation.org

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