Willowsford residents take pride in their lawns and gardens, and rightfully so! Some residents have even taken it upon themselves to incorporate native plants into their landscapes which we love to see here at the conservancy! In this article, we’ll focus on why native plants are a great option ...
If you’ve ever visited our wet meadow in the Grange village, you may have noticed some small pools of water, they’re called vernal pools. A vernal pool is a seasonal pool of water that provides habitat for distinct plant and animal species. They are a unique type of wetland, as ...
Your Neighbors Are Claiming New Homes in The Grant Village Early in March, ten new homes were completed in The Grant Village of Willowsford. Demand for these new homes was very competitive. Prospective residents were flocking in to see them and explore the spacious interiors and appealing exteriors. By ...
The health and well being of our natural environment is a top priority for the Land Stewardship team at Willowsford, that is why we conduct routine maintenance on our meadows, forests, trails, and open spaces. Brush hogging is one of our upkeeping practices to maintain and improve the overall ...
Black bears are North America's most widely distributed bear species and can found throughout the United States as well as in Canada and Mexico. More specifically, they can be found right here in Willowsford! We are fortunate enough to have several sightings of a healthy black bears in Willowsford ...
Figure 1. Eastern Screech Owl We are lucky in Loudoun County to have such a wide variety of different owls. To list a few, we have the Eastern Screech owl, Barred owl, Barn owl, Great Horned owl, Short-Eared owl, and Northern Saw-Whet owl. How big do they ...
Our Land Stewardship team has been busy this year! Our team is responsible for managing over 2,000 acres of protected open space throughout the Willowsford community which includes over 40 miles of trails. From adding new infrastructure (like the obstacle course in the greens!) to working on land restoration ...
International bat week (Oct. 24th-31st) is a celebration of our spooky flying friends and a chance to learn more about just how important bats are! What many people may not know is how big of a role bats play in our natural ecosystems, research ...
One of the many direct benefits of conservation is creating space for outdoor recreational activities, such as fishing. At the Conservancy, we know that many of our residents enjoy going out themselves or taking their kids out to the local ponds to catch some bluegill, sunfish, bass or even catfish! ...
We've all been there -- after hiking through the woods or working in your garden, you find a tick on your skin or clothing. You may have even found one on your dog! At first glance, they may all look the same, but different tick species are found in northern Virginia. ...
To some, snakes have a bad reputation; to be fair, we may not always consider snakes the friendliest creatures! However, in terms of conservation, snakes play a vital role in our ecosystem for many reasons. All ecosystems, including the Willowsford Conservancy, greatly benefit from our slithery friends. One ...
Many of you might have noticed more wildlife on the streets or visiting your yards. Please avoid feeding wildlife such as deer, squirrels, racoons, foxes, or coyotes human food or purchased food sources that are not part of their normal diets and make sure your trash is enclosed. Feeding them ...