Conservation Dreams Come True with Permanent Protection of 14 Acres at Acorn House
Henrico, VA – “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” These powerful words from Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax made an indelible impression on a young Nicole Anderson Ellis, leading her to environmental studies and a career writing about environmental issues. It was during her research for a cover story for Richmond’s Style Weekly, for which she earned the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Reed Award, that she learned about the role conservation easements can play in protecting greenspace, and began dreaming of an easement on her own land. As an avid ambassador for land conservation in the Richmond region, Ellis has put her passion for the environment and rural character of eastern Henrico in the forefront of her daily life as a previous elected member of the Board of Directors of Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District and Founder and Co-Chair of the Route 5 Corridor Coalition.
Today, that dream comes true with the permanent conservation of nearly 14 acres at Chaffins Bluff Lane in eastern Henrico with a voluntary conservation easement co-held by Capital Region Land Conservancy (CRLC) and the Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District. Commenting on her achievement, Ellis notes, “I don’t think of this easement as protecting property. Legally that’s true, but I didn’t go through all the trouble to guard a piece of land. We save the green space because we believe wild creatures – the foxes and fireflies and turtles and hawks, and the summer tanagers that fly to Central America and back to nest in our trees every year – they deserve a safe place to raise their families too.”
Known as “Acorn House,” the property lies within CRLC’s strategic focus area for conservation in the Capital Region. Its permanent conservation preserves open space, forestland, farmland, and wetlands that contribute to the rural character and feel of the county and provides important wildlife habitat connections near the James River. It also holds significant historic importance, designated as top priority for conservation in the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s ConserveVirginia model in the Cultural and Historic Preservation category as the site lies entirely within the core battlefield areas of Chaffin’s Bluff and New Market Heights Battlefield.
Notably, the protection of Acorn House adds to the approximate 2,512 acres that is already conserved by CRLC in the Varina District, including CRLC-owned land east of the property at the Varina LandLab Conservation Area, Four Mile Creek Farm, and Griggs Pond. It contributes to the valuable historic and natural environment and scenic views that epitomizes the area by featuring over a football field’s length of road frontage with an expansive 370 feet of woods along Osborne Turnpike. “There’s an old expression that if you can’t see the forest for the trees, you don’t understand or appreciate the bigger picture. But nothing could be further from the truth for our experience working with Nicole. It was exactly because of her understanding and appreciation for the bigger picture that she worked so hard to protect her beautiful 14-acre Acorn House property” said Jane Myers, Director of Land Conservation.
“This is the tenth co-held conservation easement for Henricopolis with CRLC, and represents an opportunity to expand partnerships as we seek to equip citizens with the knowledge, guidance, and support needed to sustainably steward our shared natural resources – moving us closer to a future of clean waters and productive soils,” remarked Glenn Mitchell, Henricopolis District Manager.
Protection of land at Acorn House also emboldens the “Osborne Turnpike Corridor,” which is one of five Existing Character Protection Areas as delineated in the Henrico County Vision 2026 Comprehensive Plan, or areas that ‘exhibit a distinctive natural or built character that contributes to the identity of the surrounding area or the county as a whole.’ As development pressures migrate to the eastern areas of Henrico County, these nearly 14 acres and other nearby areas protected by CRLC make a critical impact on maintaining the county’s rural character that is valued by its citizens and affirmed in the county’s comprehensive plan.
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About Capital Region Land Conservancy (CRLC): CRLC is dedicated to conserving the natural and historic resources of Virginia’s Richmond region for the benefit of people and nature. The nonprofit land trust serves the City of Richmond and 19 surrounding counties. Since 2005, CRLC has helped protect more than 16,000 acres, including easements on more than 6,000 acres.
Contact:
Parker Agelasto, Executive Director
parker@capitalregionland.org
202-302-0153
About Henricopolis Soil & Water Conservation District (HSWCD): One of 47 Soil & Water Districts across Virginia – HSWCD uses education, cost-sharing, and other tools to encourage best conservation practices by farmers, homeowners, businesses and more. While the Henricopolis District shares boundaries with the county of Henrico, it is an autonomous government body guided by a board of five voting members, including three elected directors representing the citizens of the district.
Contact:
Glenn Mitchell, District Manager
gmitchell@hswcd.org
707-761-1422
