10 Biggest Moments of 2015

December 31, 2015

“A true measure of your worth includes all the benefits others have gained from your success.” – Cullen Hightower.

TLC identifies, protects and stewards land throughout the Triangle that safeguards clean water, protects natural habitats, supports local farms and food, and connects people with nature. In 2015, we continued our strong record of land conservation and stewardship while also expanding efforts to increase everyone’s access to these vital benefits.

Donations from supporters like you made this work possible.

Biggest Moments 2015

Take a look at our 10 Biggest Moments of 2015*:

  • In May, the TLC Board of Directors approved the Comprehensive Management Plan for Brumley Forest Nature Preserve in Orange County. This plan was created using information from natural inventories, county plans, meetings with potential site partners, and input from community members and will guide our work as we prepare Brumley for its public opening in the fall of 2016.
  • Two Wild Ideas events – Getting Outside in March and Clean Water in October – brought together over 300 community members to learn from local experts and outdoor enthusiasts about enjoying and caring for our region’s natural resources. Look for Wild Ideas for Getting Outside again this March!
  • TLC kicked off a new initiative to expand our work on farm and forest land protection efforts in Johnston County. Currently, TLC is working with Johnston County landowners on three easement projects that would conserve an additional 200 acres in the next year.
  • Employees of Net Friends, Inc. and Triangle Community Foundation helped with ecological restoration efforts at Horton Grove Nature Preserve during the first annual EarthShare NC Earth Day Corporate Challenge and TLC Board Member Sepi Saidi was a featured speaker at the subsequent Leadership Breakfast. TLC is excited to participate again this year and invites your business to join us.
  • The Conservation for All Farm Tour at Irvin Farm was a tasty success thanks to our partners at the Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Transplanting Traditions Community Farm, and the Orange County Partnership for Young Children. A special shout out to CTNC’s Future Leaders of Conservation Board for planning the tour! We also had fun at Irvin Farm this fall during the annual Membership Day.
  • The initial conservation of a property is just the first step we take in ensuring the land is forever protected. This year, staff visited all our easement properties (more than 80) and actively stewarded the more than 4,000 acres owned by TLC, including our six public nature preserves.
  • Nearly 200 different species were observed during the Brumley BioBlitz in October thanks to the hard work of community members, local naturalists, volunteers, staff, and our amazing event partner, NatureServe.
  • Hard-working volunteers provided thousands of hours of service through opportunities like the Conservation Corps, Trail Crew, Fire Crew, MLK Day of Service, employee workdays, office work, and internships. Their generosity is essential to our work and continued success and we thank them very much!
  • This year, we stepped up our efforts to engage members and the community by offering more events and outings, like several Deep River paddle trips with Frog Hollow Outdoors and the Travel Journals series with FRANK Gallery. We also offered some members-only events and opportunities like the Hiking Challenge and TGIF Happy Hour. Let us know which events you loved and how else you would like to connect with TLC in 2016 by taking our member survey.
  • As demonstrated by this list, land conservation is more than just “bucks and acres.” Still, we’re extremely proud to have conserved 481 acres this year which brings the total conserved by TLC since 1983 to over 17,400 acres!

What was your favorite moment connecting with nature this year? What are your plans for getting outside in 2016?We hope you include TLC in those plans by visiting one of our preserves, attending an event like the First Day Hike on Friday, or sharing the story of local land conservation with your family, friends, and neighbors.

With only two days left in 2015, please also consider making a tax-deductible donation to Triangle Land Conservancy. Your gift will enable us to have more big moments in 2016. Thank you so much for your support and happy new year!

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