RALEIGH, NC – Along a quiet tributary to Marks Creek, 28 acres of pines, hardwoods and streambanks are now protected in perpetuity and connected to a growing network of open space thanks to new conservation easements completed by Wake County’s Farmland Preservation Program, Wake County’s Open Space Preservation Program and Triangle Land Conservancy. This is the first project to combine funding from the Wake County Farmland Preservation Program and the Wake County Open Space Preservation Program.
This privately owned property sits next to existing county-owned open space, creating one continuous stretch of protected land. The agreement also allows for a future greenway, which could one day link Wake County’s Turnipseed Nature Preserve to Triangle Land Conservancy’s 447-acre Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve and its 17 miles of hiking and multi-use trails in eastern Wake County.
“Conservation isn’t just about protecting land, it’s about creating spaces where people, farms, forests, wildlife and the environment can thrive together,” said Donald Mial, chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. “These properties help us do just that and create new opportunities for people to experience the benefits of nature close to home.”…