Since 2002, we have led the effort to permanently protect OVER 85,000 acres of sensitive lands across two states, North Carolina and Virginia. We have been at the forefront of conservation in Virginia, protecting Battlefields, Forestlands, Rivers and Wetlands, and the Chesapeake Bay, including historic Tangier Island and over 20,000 acres in the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina.
Our Mission
As a landowner, we have first-hand knowledge of the wants and desires a landowner has in considering a conservation transaction. We have executed multiple transactions on lands we own and learned the process by placing our property under conservation before working on other lands.
Our mission is to balance the objectives of the conservation community with the financial goals of the landowners, achieving favorable results for all parties. See below for a list of our projects.
The Viriginia Cavalry Sword buckle pictured above triggered the first conservation easement Beechtree Group performed for a third party land owner. When you speak with me feel free to ask why…the story is one which truly shows how much landowners care about their property.
We have closed our first two transactions and are preparing grants for two non-profits, a municipality, and three state agencies with whom we partner. We are also now working in NC again in partnership with The Conservation Fund in pursuit of a new Forest Legacy Grant on the Roanoke River. When awarded, this project will protect over 3,000 acres contiguous to the Federal Wildlife Refuge and the NC DWR State WMA on the Roanoke River at Williamston. As of June 1, 2023 Beechtree has now conserved over 85,000 acres in two states…
We finally closed on the Nottoway Properties tract, almost 800 acres with 3 miles of frontage on the Nottoway River. We also worked on the upper Nottoway at Brunswick Plantation, as well as a few other spots along the river. DOF awarded a conservation grant for us to use for 700 acres on the Seacock Chapel swamp which feeds directly to the Blackwater River. Total Acres – 5,502
We closed our second Forest Legacy Program grant and in so doing protected Jack Mountain forever. See project write up. We added to the holding and around Sebrel with more river frontage and wetlands on Three Creeks and the Nottoway as well. Total Acres – 4,800
In spite of the challenges COVID created, we were able to continue our work and secured funding and closed on over 1,200 acre on the Chickahominy River, plus we protected over 600 acres on the Meherrin, and an additional 500 acres in Halifax County. Times were challenging but we met the test and stayed focused by working with our land owner and partners to ensure progress and conservation took place. We are glad 2020 is behind us! Total Acres protected this year is 3,302.
Beechtree remained busy with over a dozen transactions including projects on the Nottoway River, the Blackwater River, a partnership with the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation in Halifax County that protected three separate farms totaling nearly 2,000 acres, and finishing up with 1,200 acres of prime forestlands and 7 miles of river and stream corridors in Sebrel, VA. Total acres protected this year is 6,167
Beechtree worked with the City of Franklin, VA to secure funding for the Riverwalk located adjacent to historic Barrett’s Landing, site of the only Civil War battle to take place in Franklin. Additionally, we closed on 900 acres on the Chickahominy river and closed the single largest tract of land we have ever had the chance to work on – Reynolds Minerals aka Pisgah National Forest in Mitchel County, NC. This transaction protected over 58,000 acres including 20,000 located under the Pisgah National Forest and the world famous Rhododendron Gardens located near Carvers Gap. Total Acres - 62,585
In partnership with USFW-NAWCA and Virginia DOF we conserved over a mile of frontage on the Nottoway River, included 850 acres of prime farmland and high forest conservation values. Additionally, we conserved the headwaters of Three Creeks in Greensville County, Va by protecting over 1,200 acres from being clear cut thus ensuring water quality in perpetuity. We followed this up with 1,000 acres of conservation on the Meherrin River in partnership with The Nature Conservancy. We finished the year in Bedford County at Sierra Vista, a magnificent wedding venue situation on the highest ridge East of the Peaks of Otter. Total Acres – 3,067
Closed on the conservation of two important tracts on the Nottoway River, 547 acres across from Cypress Bridge Natural Area Preserve and the 250 acres Crowder tract, the other half of the “Narrows”, a former Virginia Indian fishing site that is the narrowest point on the middle section of the Nottoway River. On behalf of American Woodlands, a privately owned investor, we placed an easement on over 1,200 acres of prime Appalachian Hardwood Forest lands which is bounded by National Forest on three sides. This tract, located in Smyth County, VA, held large streams, plenty of mountainside, and will now forever be in forested along with its adjacent lands. Total Acres – 3,200
Working with Albemarle County, Beechtree secured a ACE grant to acquire the development rights and to protect a 324 acre farm and home called “Mount Eagle”. This property has been in the same family since Thomas Jefferson designed and oversaw construction of the mansion, which still stands today. As well as protecting the home, we secured over a mile of frontage on the Rivanna River and protected the prime farmlands soil on site. The grant and tax equity were triple the initial projections due to securing the ACE grant. Vinbiliken was our first client on the Nottoway River. This property lies on the south side of the Nottoway River at “The Narrows”. This 300-acre property was our first full bottomland timber surrender and set the model by which we have now conserved nearly 40 miles of river frontage along the Nottoway. The landowner introduced us to the opposite side owner, Crowder, which we closed the following year, ensuring the protection of “The Narrows” in perpetuity. Working with Bob Duncan, then head of DWR, Beechtree arranged for the donation of the 175 acre “Black Walnut Island” to the town of Tangier. Tangier is an island community which is fully self-contained on the south of the two islands. Governor Terry McAuliffe personally travelled to Tangier to celebrate the gift and thank the owners. See McAuliffe video in tangier photo section.
Tripled the size of the Cowbane Prairie Natural Area preserve by retiring the development rights to over 165 multi family homes and 65 single family sites while transferring the property to a conservation group for long term protection.
Conserved 163 acres at the "Dragon Run", one of the most pristine watersheds in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Additionally, we partnered with the VA Dept. of Forestry to protect over 1,100 acres of prime Virginia forestlands in Louisa County, VA.
Saved over 1,100 acres of Forestland near Xion Crossroads, VA
Conserved an additional 736 acres at Kelly's Ford and acreage at Rappahannock Station Battlefield
Protected 964 acres at Kelly's Ford Battlefield while preserving substantial agricultural rights for the owners.
CREATED the Normans Ford Advanced Mitigation site to offset wetlands losses in the Rappahannock River watershed.