
	Triangle Land Conservancy 1101 Haynes Street Suite 205 Raleigh, NC 27604 919.833.3662

Message of the Month

We get a lot of e-mail here at TLC, and some of it is pure gold. Now we're sharing some of the best in this new feature. Want to play? Please send your message about a TLC-related experience to us.

September 2007

Dear TLC,
I am planning a hike with a group of friends to White Pines Preserve. I went out to the preserve to check it out ahead of time but was unable to find a trail map. I have also looked online but still am unable to find a trail map. Do you have a trail map of the White Pines trail you would be able to send me and could you please tell me if the trail makes a loop or not? Thank you.

Brenda R.

Editor's note: Your question could not have come at a better time! Thanks to a generous grant from Progress Energy, we are developing interpretive materials for the following TLC Nature Preserves and Open Lands:

* Deep River and McIver Landing

* Flower Hill

* Johnston Mill Nature Preserve

* Swift Creek Bluffs

* White Pines Preserve

The interpretive kiosks at the preserves have been updated with current information, photos and maps. As well, full-color Preserve Guides with maps and interpretive information for each of these sites will be available in October on-site, at local outdoor gear shops and at TLC events. The Preserve Guides will also be available for download on the TLC website. In the meantime, you can also download a trail map for White Pines on the TLC website: visit http://www.tlc-nc.org/lands/tlc/white_pines_np.shtml and click on "Access" to be taken to a page with a downloadable map. Many thanks to Progress Energy for this generous donation.

August 2007

"Dear TLC,

Once TLC purchases property is it open to the public? May I take my dog for a walk on TLC-owned land? How about more intensive activities such as biking? If not, how is the land used (if at all)? Thank you for your time and help."

Jamie B.

Editor's note: The short answer is, some TLC-owned lands are open to the public. You can learn more about which places you can visit by going to this page on our website:
www.tlc-nc.org/lands/places_to_visit.shtml.
This page offers more insight into our entire conservation practice: www.tlc-nc.org/lands/conservation_lands.shtml.

Dogs are allowed on TLC's open lands -- we just ask that you keep your dog leashed as a courtesy to other hikers and to protect the wildlife which calls our preserves home. We do not currently allow biking on any TLC properties. There are mountain bike trails on a property TLC helped to protect, Little River Regional Park, which is managed jointly by Orange and Durham counties.

June 2007

Hi there,
I am writing with a response to this nature question in TLC's E-News: “If you take an early morning stroll in one of TLC's woodland preserves this time of year, such as Johnston Mill or White Pines, you might hear the exuberant call of a migratory songbird that is named for the type of nest it builds.”

I think the answer is ovenbird. The ovenbird is migratory, lives in woodlands, is an exuberant songster, and builds a ground nest that looks like an oven. If there’s another local bird that fits the description, I look forward to learning what it is!

Kate M.
Chapel Hill, NC

Editor's note: You are correct! Anyone can participate in our monthly nature trivia contest by signing up for TLC E-News, our email newsletter that features current conservation news from TLC. Just click here to go to the News and Events page and scroll to the E-News section to sign up. The winner of the trivia contest receives a TLC baseball cap.

May 2007

"Dear TLC,
I have some friends who just did your moonlight hike last weekend and had an amazing time. I'm somewhat new to the area and this is the first I've heard of your organization. Will you be hosting any more moonlight hikes in the future? Thank you!"

Dana T.
Raleigh, NC

Editor's note: Although we don't have another moonlight hikes scheduled for this spring, we will likely offer one this fall. But this spring and summer we are offering many other daylight outings, including canoe trips and hikes. Visit our Events and Outings page on the website for more information.

And, I wanted to let you know that the person who led the moonlight hike for us leads many other walks through the Meetup.com Triangle Hiking and Outdoors Group.

January 2007

"Dear TLC,
My family owns land in Orange County in the Critical Area of the Cane Creek Watershed. Right now, we are looking at options for 28.5 acres. A portion of this land is still being farmed; it is rented by a local dairy farmer to raise hay for his cows. A smaller portion is wooded. Unfortunately, my aunt who owns the property is in a situation where she will have to sell the land within the next 6 months. I was hoping you can give me some information on any conservation options in the Triangle area and to see if our land would qualify for any type of conservation program. Thanks for any information or guidance that you could send my way."

Laurie B.
Hickory, NC

Editor's note: TLC is always glad to hear from landowners interested in conservation. The new For Landowners section of our website provides a wide variety of conservation information and tools for landowners to begin exploring the conservation process. In this case, TLC provided the writer with contact information for the Orange Water and Sewer Authority, which is actively protecting land in the Cane Creek Watershed.

December 2006

"Dear TLC,
I need info on how to make a donation via a stock transfer. We have done this in the past but cannot locate the transfer information. I am not as well versed in web-site financial matters as I would like to be! We would like to do this in the next couple of weeks. My husband and I really appreciate the good work all of you are doing in preserving land. We have been blessed this year and we wish to share it with TLC. Thank you,"

Pam H.,
Chapel Hill, NC

Editor's note: Making a gift of securities to Triangle Land Conservancy is easy, and all the information needed to do so is available on our website at www.tlc-nc.org/donors_securities.shtml.

November 2006

"Dear TLC,

I was born in Raleigh, live in Johnston Co. and work for Wake Co. What properties do you own or have easements for or are looking at buying in Johnston County? After reading Lester Brown's Plan B 2.0, I want to find out what good things are happening in the area environmentally and support that and speak out against misuse of our land. What people or organizations are working in Johnston County? I attend the Board of County Commissioners meetings at 6 p.m. and follow agendas for the 1 p.m. meeting as well.

I'd like to get organized with other like-minded residents. I've also learned that I need to be attending Planning Board meetings the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. because that is where almost all of the subdivisions are approved. 17,000 lots have already been approved, 400 just at the last meeting.

Thanks so much for your work. All the Best."

Amy Elizabeth Devereaux
Clayton, NC

Editor's notes:
To see what land TLC has protected in Johnston County, go to our region map and click on the tree icons.

Ms. Devereaux would be interested in hearing from other Johnston County residents interested in protecting open space and the environment. Please feel free to contact her at aedevereaux@hotmail.com.

October 2006

"Attached is a picture of two turkeys perched on our gate. For the past several months we have seen nine turkeys in the pasture beside our house. These two were perched on the gate and didn’t seem to mind us taking a picture of them from our deck. We live just down the road from J.E. and Gerry Hearn, who I believe you helped negotiate a sale of their land along the Deep River to the State of NC. Our home is approximately one half mile southwest of the Hearn’s river property. These turkeys and other wildlife have benefited from the way Mr. and Mrs. Hearn, surrounding neighbors and TLC have helped to preserve land near the Deep River. Thanks for your hard work."

James Phillips
Sanford, NC