Hanes Forest ~ 963 acres, Surry County
Helen C. and James G. Hanes, Jr. Donation of Land.
In the Piedmont, protecting parcels close to 1,000 acres in size can be considered an opportunity of a lifetime. In the late 1970’s, the North Carolina Nature Conservancy was approached with an opportunity to protect a county significant natural heritage site of nearly 1,000 acres provided that the land’s current tenant, the Eckerd Youth Camp, could continue to lease the property. Due to this site’s high quality examples of Acidic Cove Forest, Rich Cove Forest, Pine-Oak Heath, and Low Elevation Seep that provide habitat for a variety of species including NC threatened Wehrle’s salamander (Plethodon wehrlei), its adjacency to the previously protected 2,874-acre Broadhead Tract, and the presence of on-site land managers, the Nature Conservancy readily and happily accepted the offer of this generous gift that protected land in both the Mitchell and the Fisher River Watersheds.
By 2001, PLC had been working in the
Mitchell River
Watershed
for five years and had protected over 700 acres, including
Wolfe
Creek Preserve and
Saddle Mountain. Due
to PLC’s strong presence in the immediate area of this property and professional
tract record, the North Carolina Nature Conservancy felt that the long-term
stewardship needs of this site would be better served if they transferred their
ownership of Hanes Forest to PLC. Today, PLC owns the property and continues to
lease a portion of the land to Eckerd Youth Camp.
Project funding provided by the landowner and the North Carolina Nature Conservancy.
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