NEWS RELEASE Contact: Amie Ware, Division Manager Parks and Recreation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE aware@purcellvilleva.gov, 540-751-2350
School is in Session at the Chapman DeMary Trail with LVHS Teacher Liam
McGranaghan for the Monthly Nature Walk on August 26!
PURCELLVILLE, Va., August 17, 2018 — The Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board invites you and your family to join them for the 8th in their series of free monthly nature walks at the Chapman DeMary Trail. This walk will be led by Loudoun Valley High School Environmental Science teacher, Liam McGranaghan. During this walk, held Sunday, August 26 from 1 to 3 p.m., Mr. McGranaghan will talk about wildlife in this riparian corridor as well as wildflowers and trees within this habitat. Please register for this free walk on the Events and Activities page of the Town website at www.PurcellvilleVa.gov.
In addition to teaching environmental science at Loudoun Valley High School, Liam McGranaghan is one of the teachers who helped establish the Chapman DeMary Trail almost 10 years ago. The McGranaghan Stewardship Award was named after him for all the time and expertise he dedicates to enhancing this habitat. He graduated with a BA from Virginia Tech and a MS in Biology from George Mason University. He also teaches courses on raptors and herpetology for The Graduate School. He is an avid outdoorsman and nature photographer who also bands raptors for the U.S. Geological Services. He has also authored several articles on raptors and published the book, The Red-tailed Hawk 5th Edition 2015. He is a member of the Loudoun Education Association, the Virginia Herpetological Association, the North American Falconry Association, the Virginia Falconers Association, and is an Honorary Member of Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.
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, 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 entrance for the Chapman DeMary Trail is 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, water quality, tree identification, and more.
Mark your calendar to join us the last Sunday of each month to walk with experts and discover nature’s secrets! Rain or shine. Bring your family. Learn more and register on the Events and Activities page of the Town of Purcellville’s website at www.PurcellvilleVa.gov.
The Town of Purcellville, Virginia
Purcellville is an award-winning town of over 9,000 residents located in Loudoun County, approximately 40 miles west of Washington, DC. Having received the prestigious Siemens Sustainability Award for Small Communities, Purcellville continues to be honored for its green initiatives with most recently being the Tree City USA recipient for the 10th year. The Town was reaffirmed as a AAA rated community by S&P Global Ratings, the highest credit rating possible, and is recognized as one of the safest towns in Virginia. Once a stop along the W&OD rail line, Purcellville has maintained its historic old-town feel through the restoration and maintenance of its many downtown structures, reflecting the Victorian architecture popular during the early 1900s. Today, Purcellville is the economic hub of western Loudoun County and a popular weekend destination for antiquing, entertainment, farmer’s markets, wineries, breweries, distilleries and restaurants. More info at www.purcellvilleva.gov.
