Piedmont Land Conservancy wins 127 acres for nature preserve near Pfafftown

The Piedmont Land Conservancy has acquired 127 acres of historic farmland in Forsyth County for preservation purposes.

The land was something of a surprise gift. Husband and wife biologists Peter and Ann Weigl purchased the property late last year with the intention of donating it to the Conservancy.

The move keeps land out of the hands of developers in a growing part of the county, near part of the planned Western Loop of the Northern Beltway.

Bashavia Creek Preserve will be named for the creek that meanders toward the Yadkin River. The land was formerly owned by the Needham family and includes a farmhouse dating back to the 1850s.

Kevin Redding is the executive director of the Piedmont Land Conservancy. He says the organization aims to create a public nature preserve in the nine counties it serves. This opportunity at Forsyth was unexpected.

“Probably 40 percent of the property is hay fields that we will decide to keep as agricultural or convert to more wildlife-friendly management,” he says. “And then the rest is a really pretty oak and hickory forest with some cliffs, some beautiful beech trees, lots of wildflowers in the spring, so there’s a real mix.

Redding says the property is not yet open to the public, but when it is, it will include hiking trails among its offerings.