With the final easement recorded on December 30 th , LTV had expanded their easement portfolio to 240 easements , totaling 30,721 acres protected across 31 counties . This included 21 new easements recorded in 2022 , protecting over 4,600 acres , which is an annual record for LTV . What was once a humble volunteer-run land trust , LTV has grown to become the largest in the Commonwealth , holding more easements than any other .
“ I think our success last year is due to fact that we focus almost exclusively on permanent easements , we ’ ve developed partnerships and relationships across the Commonwealth , and we ’ re willing to work in nearly any part of Virginia where there ’ s a need .” said LTV Executive Director , Ashton Cole . “ We ’ ve expanded our staff , enabling us to work with more easement donors , which has been
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Kathy Wilt and Chase
wonderful given that the interest in land conservation has grown significantly in recent years .”
Despite this expansion , LTV ’ s roots are still firmly in Loudoun County , with their office based in Middleburg . Loudoun remains the county with the highest number of LTV easements , totaling 119 across more than 10,000 acres , with many new prospects each year .
In December of 2022 , Kathy Wilt protected her 12-acre property in the historic village of Taylorstown , ensuring her farm and her family ’ s legacy will remain , rather than the alternative possibility , which was for the land to become a 12-lot subdivision .
“ My grandparents purchased this beautiful property in 1939 . I was fortunate to grow up here helping my grandmother with all the farm chores such as milking the cows , feeding all the farm animals and tending to the garden ,” said Wilt .
Wilt ’ s location within the Taylorstown Historic District , listed on both the Virginia Landmarks Register and National Register of Historic Places , and its visibility from the road , made her property an important piece of conservation within this area ’ s rural setting , which is very vulnerable to development pressure .
“ This donation of the easement was a very emotional decision made on my part ,” said Wilt . “ It is satisfying that the land will be kept in open space for perpetuity and continue with the same stewardship of my ancestors .”
Wilt maintains a herd of Holstein cattle , making her an excellent candidate for LTV ’ s Malcolm Baldwin Farmer ’ s Fund . Kathy also benefited from the Piedmont Environmental Council ’ s Catoctin Creek Conservation Fund , and Loudoun County ’ s Conservation Easement Assistance Program .
“ Kathy was wonderful to work with and we are honored to help her achieve her conservation goals ,” said Cole . “ Having this diverse funding available is a wonderful way to protect Loudoun ’ s threatened landscapes , and I hope to make other landowners aware of these opportunities so that they can be encouraged to make the same generous choice to protect their open space .”
to learn more about Land Trust of Virginia , please visit their website , landtrustva . org .