Hull
Springs Farm Provides Perfect Setting for NNLC
Field Trip
A
veritable who’s who of Northern Neck conservationists
made a pilgrimage to Hull Springs Farm in
Westmoreland
County
on June 11 2005 for an informal field trip organized by the
Northern Neck Land Conservancy (NNLC). Some 50
environmentalists, birders, and just plain nature lovers
enjoyed what one participant called “a perfect
setting” for understanding the results of land
conservation.
The
Longwood University Foundation and
Longwood
University
in
Farmville
,
Virginia
, are the stewards of the Farm, at the bequest of Mary
Farley Ames Lee. This bequest made it clear that,
above all, the Hull Springs Farm “must not be sold or
subdivided for commercial or residential purposes.”
It further states that it “should be used for the
purposes of agriculture, archaeology, forestry, and
education, and for natural resource conservation.”
The Foundation received the farm from Mrs. Lee, a
Longwood Class of 1938 alumna, in 1999.
NNLC
skipped formal presentations in favor of ad-hoc
conversations, visiting The Big House overlooking the
confluence of Aimes and Glebe Creeks, and picnicking on
the grounds. Various specialists were on hand to
discuss the significance of the site. Joe Lerch,
Virginia Land Planner, represented the Chesapeake Bay
Foundation. Sandy Spencer, United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, provided expertise about the area’s
wildlife. Alix D. Dowling Fink, Ph.D., Department
of Natural
Sciences, answered questions about
Longwood
University
’s use of the farm for research and other educational
pursuits.
"We wanted to take
this opportunity to show people this working farm and
what a fabulous gift Mrs. Lee gave to
Longwood University
. It’s really incredible,” said Mary
Louisa Pollard, president of NNLC. “The plan for
the day is very informal, because we felt that being
from 11 to 3, people could do a number of things.
If they want to take a hike, they can. If they
simply want to sit under a tree and enjoy the surroundings,
they can,” she explained.
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There
was a large number of visitors from Northern Neck
Audubon, so Sandy Spencer organized a birding walk,
starting with a careful viewing of an osprey nest
containing a parent and chick. Along the walk,
Spencer identified birds by their call, even though they
were not in sight.
Meanwhile,
Joe Lerch pointed out to others the problems associated
with farm runoff into creeks and rivers. “The
Foundation is devoting considerable funding to
environmental education,” he noted.
Prof.
Fink distributed a 26-page “Feasibility Study Report:
Hull Springs Farm” prepared by Bobbie Burton,
executive director of Hull Springs Farm, and Kathleen M.
Register, project director of Hull Springs Farm.
The report describes the biodiversity of the site and
presents a five-year set of goals. “The Farm
should serve not only as a resource for Longwood
University and other educational institutions, but also
for the region, the Commonwealth, the Chesapeake Bay
watershed, and beyond,” the report states, adding that
the Northern Neck is undergoing rapid development where
rural landscapes and natural habitats are giving way to
weekend homes, golf courses, and housing, as well as
commercial developments.
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