James Madisons Montpelier We The People Spring 2015 | Page 12

WE THE PEOPLE

Preserving America’s Land
Spanning more than 2,650 acres, just 90 miles south of Washington, D.C., with unfettered views
of the Blue Ridge Mountains, 200 acres of old growth forest, and 400 bird species, Montpelier is
a unique national treasure.

>> The Montpelier Foundation
in collaboration with the
National Trust for Historic
Preservation and the Piedmont
Environmental Council have
placed 700 acres of land at
Montpelier under permanent
land conservation easements.

12

>> The Virginia Governor’s
Agriculture and Forestry
Industries Development
Fund awarded a $40,000
planning grant to Orange
County, allowing Montpelier
to investigate its agritourism
opportunities and promote
economic development for
the region.

>> The James Madison Trails are expanding
with the addition of the Montpelier-Grelen
Connector, a three-mile trail that connects
the Montpelier Visitor Center with Grelen
Nursery and Market. Montpelier’s trail
system offers visitors over six miles of
natural pathways through the historic James
Madison Landmark Forest, the Demonstration
Forest, and the Civil War encampment site.