The Western Virginia Land Trust works with Roanoke County landowners who wish to preserve their land and keep it in a rural or agricultural condition. They are holding a workshop at the Bent Mountain Fire and Rescue station on Thursday, April 29, at 7 p.m. for county residents who want to learn more about conservation easements.
Grace Terry is one such landowner that has permanently protected her land with a conservation easement. She donated the easement on Poor Mountain land she inherited from a large family tract because “it made sense when there was a chance to protect the mountain and beautiful Laurel Creek.” The land is located off Honeysuckle Road in western Roanoke County, near the Montgomery County line.
Terry won’t express an opinion on a recent proposal to build windmills for power generation on land near her property. “I did what I could…One reason I did it was to protect the viewshed” with an easement. So “I’m staying out “of the windmill proposal, she said. The plan is opposed by some and favored by others. She did note that her conservation easement has required utility providers to seek alternative routes around her property when planning new utility corridors.
Terry recently drove from Roanoke County to Floyd at night and was dismayed to see the lights on telephone towers. She’s pleased to save her land for deer, wild turkeys, grouse and other animals and birds in their natural habitat.
She would like to see her sister and two brothers save their adjoining land on Poor Mountain with conservation easements. This property has been in the Terry family since 1835 when their first settlers moved here from Pittsylvania County. Grace Terry and her siblings are the sixth generation on Poor Mountain.
For more information on conservation easements or about Thursday’s workshop, please call the Western Virginia Land Trust at 540-985-0000.
By Dave Perry [email protected]