A Vision Coming into Focus:
The Future of Bashavia Creek Preserve
November 2025
Last summer, PLC announced the acquisition of land near Pfafftown, just outside Winston-Salem, that will become our next nature preserve. The response from the community has been incredible, and we can’t wait to make the vision for Bashavia Creek Preserve a reality.
Rich in both cultural and natural history, the preserve has unique character that we are committed to protecting and setting up for long-term success, as a place people will enjoy for generations to come.
A Preserve in the Making
To prepare for the preserve’s future, PLC created a new role: our first Nature Preserve Manager. Mike Santucci, who brings extensive land management experience, is leading efforts to shape a vision for the property and ensure it receives the dedicated care it deserves.
The care of Bashavia Creek Preserve will be guided by a long-term stewardship plan created with the help of a 13-member citizen advisory group. Together, we’re shaping a sustainable vision for the land and its future.
The plan calls for protecting the beauty of the landscape, maintaining an agricultural presence on the property, and managing the land to enhance biodiversity and safeguard the water quality of Bashavia Creek and its tributaries. PLC also plans to build a trail network, giving visitors the chance to explore both forests and fields. The first trail is expected to open in late 2026, with more to follow throughout the year.
Over the coming months, you may notice efforts to enhance pollinator and early-successional habitats in the fields, control invasive plants along creeks and hedgerows, and stabilize old forest trails. These projects will strengthen the preserve’s ecosystems, support biodiversity, and protect clean water.
Protecting key Lands
Recently, PLC secured a critical 0.99-acre parcel in the center of the preserve (image bottom left). Protecting this small but important piece keeps the preserve intact and prevents potential development from disrupting the heart of this remarkable property.
Volunteer Workdays Begin
October 30, 2025 marked an exciting milestone for Piedmont Land Conservancy as volunteers gathered for the very first workday at the future Bashavia Creek Preserve! This initial volunteer workday was a great start of on-the-ground work to prepare the site for future public access. Volunteer crews made significant progress, trimming back vegetation on nearly half of the future trail corridor in preparation for construction. Additional teams focused on stabilizing three severely eroded areas, an important step in protecting water quality and preparing the land for restoration.
Caring for Bashavia Creek Preserve is a privilege, and we are honored to share it with the community. Even before the trails open, it is inspiring to see this land protected and thriving, and we look forward to welcoming you soon.
