PURCELLVILLE, Va., April 23, 2018 — Come to the next Discover Nature’s Secrets event at the Chapman DeMary Trail from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 29 to help plant 150 seedlings and find out how trees improve water quality. The Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will be joined by the Purcellville Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee to host the April 29 event. This will be the first of three community planting days for a project funded through a grant the Town received from the Virginia Department of Forestry to restore the riparian buffer at the Chapman DeMary Trail. It also part of the first annual Loudoun Nature Days hosted by the Loudoun Environmental Stewardship Alliance, a month-long effort to encourage people of all ages to spend time in Loudoun’s great outdoors and experience nature through recreation, citizen science, and community service (learn more at www.LoudounNature.org). The walk and planting will be led by forester Kyle Dingus of the Virginia Department of Forestry. Bring your own shovel, work gloves, a hammer, and water to drink, and volunteer to be part of this important effort! Please sign up online through the Events and Activities page of the Town of Purcellville’s website: www.PurcellvilleVA.gov.
The Chapman DeMary Trail is a 10-acre area considered to be the last stand of old-growth forest in the Town of Purcellville. It runs along the South Fork Catoctin Creek which is part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The area is open to the public for environmental recreation, exploration, and education. The Town of Purcellville holds the conservation easement for this privately-owned property. The Chapman DeMary Trail is part of a partnership among the Town of Purcellville, The Nature Generation, Loudoun Valley High School, and the Piedmont Environmental Council. The entrance and parking are behind the building at 205 East Hirst Road in Purcellville.
The Discover Nature’s Secrets guided nature walks are held the last Sunday of each month at the Chapman DeMary Trail. Throughout 2018, walks will be led by experts from the Virginia Department of Forestry, Loudoun Watershed Watch, Loudoun County Tree Stewards, the Piedmont Environmental Council, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, and an Environmental Explorations Teacher from Loudoun Valley High School. Topics will include water quality, pollinators and monarchs, wildflowers, birds, tree identification, and more. The walks are held rain or shine; bring your family! Learn more and RSVP on the Events and Activities page of the Town of Purcellville’s website at www.PurcellvilleVa.gov.
