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This week, the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust was back in Richmond as the General Assembly convened for its 2026 session. On January 28, we joined partners from across the Commonwealth for Virginia Outdoor Recreation Day, a lobby day championing the Virginia Great Outdoors Act! Virginia’s Great Outdoors Act would provide $230 million annually to protect critical natural, agricultural, historic, and water resources, expand public access, and invest in trails, parks, and

This month, we interviewed Margaret Fisher, a familiar and inspiring voice in the Northern Virginia conservation community. Margaret has been involved with Plant NOVA Natives for nearly 10 years and has also been a longtime partner and collaborator with Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT). Many in our community may recognize her from a previous NVCT feature highlighting her property and her neighbor’s, which she conserved prior to their sale. In this interview, Margar

We’re excited to welcome our newest board member, Shane Hanlon! Shane joins the NVCT Board after previously serving on our Advisory Council, bringing with him a strong foundation in science communications, policy, and conservation. With a Ph.D. in Biology and a career dedicated to helping scientists and organizations share their work more effectively, Shane offers a unique perspective that bridges research, storytelling, and impact. His familiarity with NVCT’s mission and wor

Christopher Timothy is NVCT’s newest Land Conservation Fellow, bringing a strong background in geography and GIS to our lands team. A recent graduate of James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science in Geography, Christopher supports NVCT by helping develop strategic conservation maps across the Potomac region. With a lifelong fascination with maps, a passion for conservation, and hands-on experience working with Indigenous land management perspectives, Christopher is e

Northern Virginia is no stranger to the extreme effects of climate change, experiencing everything from longer, hotter summers to record-breaking snowfall within a single day ( The Woodgrove Outlander, 2025 ). In other years, we observe the opposite, but regardless of temperature, the seasons have shifted to extremes at both ends. These dramatic shifts in seasonal patterns create ideal conditions for invasive species to spread and intensify their impact. Invasive species are

Cheryl and Steve Honard aren't your typical landowners. The newest NVCT conserved property is a pocket park just down the street from where Cheryl and Steve live in Loudoun. While the Honards care deeply about preserving open space for their community, their decision to protect their  property was rooted in something far more personal. Today, the small 0.33-acre park features benches, a mulch path, and plantings throughout. At one corner stands a large boulder beneath a matu

Every year brings new critical lands and waters to protect, new partners to work with, and new challenges to face! Here’s our end-of-the-year wrap-up of the newly conserved places that stood out most this year because they represent the diversity in partners we work with, how our work contributes to enhancing public access to nature in Northern Virginia, and, of course, the stories of the wonderful people and organizations who make conservation possible.    Lubar    The Lubar

Amber, orange, and golden-yellow leaves blanket our Northern Virginia landscapes this time of year, creating a colorful carpet that crunches underfoot. By now, your yard is probably covered in them too. Traditionally, this is the time for fall yard cleanups, raking away all the dead leaves and branches and throwing them in the trash. However, this does more harm than good for your land and the environment. But don’t worry, you can still enjoy jumping into a soft pile or two. 

Say hello to OJ Ward, our current Community and Partnerships Fellow! Since joining NVCT in August, OJ has focused on building partnerships with local organizations, supporting outreach initiatives, and helping strengthen our mission to make conservation more inclusive and accessible to all. Her passion for community engagement and environmental health makes her an invaluable part of the NVCT team.  1. What did you study in school, and what motivated you to choose that path? 

The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT) is thrilled to welcome Elizabeth Ward to our Board of Directors. With a lifelong connection to the region and a distinguished career in conservation and communications, Elizabeth brings a deep passion for protecting local natural spaces and a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership. We sat down with her to learn more about her background, her love of Northern Virginia’s outdoors, and what inspired her to join NVCT’s mission