Happenings Around the Blue Ridge – May 5, 2022
June 11 — Round Hill Appalachian Trail Festival – FBRM is a sponsor
Following 2,190 miles of mountain ridge lines, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T.) crosses 14 states, from Maine to Georgia. It’s the longest and oldest marked footpath in the country—and, here in Round Hill, VA, we’re lucky enough to have the A.T. right in our backyard.
In the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the town of Round Hill sits between two A.T. centers, Bears Den to the south and Blackburn to the north. So, when town leaders learned about the Appalachian Trail Community program, it seemed a natural fit. The inaugural festival in 2019 celebrated Round Hill’s official designation as an A.T. Community, recognizing the Trail as a community asset and pledging to support ongoing Trail stewardship.
The Town of Round Hill will host the festival again on Saturday June 11, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains (FBRM) is again this year a sponsor. Learn more: https://www.roundhillat.org/
Listen to hiking experts and enjoy live music—plus kids’ activities, food and (of course) beverages from B Chord Brewing. There will be “hands on” activities and demos like trail cooking, nature art, hammock camping, and more!
The festival will be at B Chord Brewing 34266 Williams Gap Road Round Hill, VA 20141
On-Going — Proposed Corporate Retreat/ Glamping Development in the MDOD
An application has been filed with the Loudoun County Department of Planning and Zoning for a Pre-Application Conference (PRAP-2000-0029) regarding a proposed Corporate Retreat / Glamping development near Ashby Gap and the small community of Paris, Va. In Loudoun County this type of meeting is mandatory for any legislative land use application (rezonings, special exceptions, sign development plans, etc.) The Conference is scheduled for May 9th.
The 62-acre site is in Loudoun, Clarke, and Fauquier counties with considerable acreage classified as steep slopes. To date very little specific information is available about the proposed development, the proposed density, or the exact location on the site.
In Loudoun County the site is zoned AR-2 (to be renamed Rural South — ARS with the adoption of the new zoning ordinance). The site is within the Mountain Development Overlay District (MDOD) and the MDOD regulations will govern the proposed development.
Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains (FBRM) is advocating with the with the Zoning Ordinance Committee (ZOC) and with the Planning Commission for a number of changes in the draft MDOD regulations to protect the area and steep slopes from excessive development. Friends is particularly concerned about the number of uses permitted under the general category of “agriculture. Currently, FBRM does not have sufficient information about the proposed Corporate Retreat / Glamping development to assess its impact on the Blue Ridge. We will continue to monitor the proposal and work closely with Loudoun, Clarke, and Fauquier development officials as the situation warrants.
The Clarke County portion is zoned FOC (forest, open space, and conservation).
May 20 – Bike to Work Day
Registration is now open for 2022 Bike to Work Day. The annual Bike to Work Day event celebrates a healthy and fun way to get to work at 100 different pit stops throughout the metropolitan Washington region. Participants will ride to a pit stop, pick-up free t-shirts and giveaways, and enjoy refreshments before beginning the workday.
In Loudoun County, adults planning to participate in this free event are encouraged to register online at https://www.biketoworkmetrodc.org/ to pick up a T-shirt at one of the Loudoun County pit stops. Both pit stops are adjacent to the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail in:
- Leesburg at Raflo Park on Harrison Street, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.; and
- Sterling, just east of Route 28, at the Sterling Ruritan Club, 183 Ruritan Road, from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Bike to Work Day is coordinated regionally by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and Commuter Connections and is held rain or shine. The event attracts thousands of cyclists in the region. The local arrangements are planned by Loudoun County Commuter Services.
For more information, including promotional materials, email Judy Galen with Loudoun County Commuter Services, or call 703-737-8044.
May 21 — Celebrate Birds: The Big Sit at Morven Park
Join the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy bird walk leaders any time from sunrise to 4:00 pm at Morven Park. Stay for a few minutes or a few hours. Participants hang out near the Gatehouse and watch, listen for, and talk about birds. If you are interested in bird watching, but haven’t yet given it a try, come on out! If you are limited in mobility and want to attend a relatively stationary birding event, then this is for you! If you want to just hang out with other people and talk about birds and nature, then come on by! Everyone is welcome. Bring binoculars if you have them. No fee and no registration required.
Questions: contact Bryan Henson at bhenson@loudounwildlife.org.
June 8 — Conservation in the Catoctin
Join the Piedmont Environmental Council’s (PEC) Catoctin Creek Conservation Fund for an evening dedicated to conservation. Expect to leave knowing more about conservation easements, agricultural cost-share programs, and habitat restoration efforts within the Catoctin watershed.
The Catoctin Creek Conservation Fund assists with the costs of conservation easements and land purchase transactions to protect the agricultural, historic, rural, and scenic character of the Catoctin Creek watershed in Loudoun County. A primary goal of the fund is to help relieve the burden of costs associated with protecting land through a conservation easement, along with providing outreach through gatherings and one-on-one meetings.
An advisory committee, composed of local residents and PEC staff, helps identify properties; assists landowners; provides information to landowners about protecting their land; and supports agriculture through outreach and connecting landowners and farmers.
The event will be 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery
John Wolford Rd.
Waterford, VA 20197
Please contact Hallie Harriman to RSVP at hharriman@pecva.org or (540) 347-2334 x 7066
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