PURCELLVILLE, Va., August 3, 2023 — Join the Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the Purcellville Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee, and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Stream Team on Sunday, August 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. to observe creek critters up close at the Chapman DeMary Trail! The South Fork of the Catoctin Creek, part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, runs along the Chapman DeMary Trail. Creek critters that live in this stream include water penny larvae, dragonfly nymphs, mayfly nymphs, crayfish, hellgrammites, and clams. Attendees will learn about these critters, help find and identify them, and find out how they help determine the health of the stream. Register online to attend.
In addition to the fun activities about creek critters, nature journals and pencils will be provided to attendees, courtesy of the Purcellville Arts Council. Those who already received journaling supplies at previous events at the Chapman DeMary Trail are encouraged to bring their journals to observe, write, draw, and capture the seasonal changes as well as to get a sticker. Participants with six or more stickers from the monthly nature walks through November 2023 will get a prize.
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 and parking for the Chapman DeMary Trail is behind the building at 205 East Hirst Road in Purcellville.
Learn more and register online on the Monthly Nature Walks page in the Events and Activities section of the Town of Purcellville’s website at www.PurcellvilleVa.gov.
The Town of Purcellville, Virginia
“Purcellville-your small Town, where history and progress intersect and people prosper,” is an award-winning town of approximately 10,000 residents located in Loudoun County, approximately 50 miles west of Washington, DC. Having received the 2021 Virginia Municipal League Innovation Award for Environmental Sustainability and in years past, the prestigious Siemens Sustainability Award for Small Communities, Purcellville continues to be honored for innovation and green initiatives. The Town most recently received the Tree City USA Award for the 14th consecutive year. The Town was reaffirmed as a AAA rated community by S&P Global Ratings, the highest credit rating possible, and was ranked “Safest City” in Virginia in 2020. Once a stop along the W&OD rail line, which has been converted to a multi-use trail from Alexandria, VA to Purcellville, the Town 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, equestrian activities, farmer’s markets, wineries, breweries, distilleries and restaurants. More info at www.purcellvilleva.gov.
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