New nature preserve helps Land Trust reach 10K-acre milestone

A recent land donation to the Land Trust of North Alabama means that the organization has now surpassed 10,000 acres of conservation land. That’s a pretty significant milestone!

The 144-acre donation will become Hickory Cove Nature Preserve. Read further for more information:

Hickory Cove Nature Preserve

The new preserve was made possible by a 144-acre land donation by Concord Land Development, Inc. The land is located in central Huntsville near the intersection of Highway 72 and Moores Mill Road.

Here’s are some tidbits on Hickory Cove Nature Preserve:

• Hickory Cove will open in June 2023 as the Land Trust’s tenth public nature preserve.
• The property includes a 1.75-mile established trail known as Legacy Loop, which begins from the City of Huntsville’s Trailhead Greenway. 
• The mountainside features a historic spring house, rocky bluffs, wet-weather falls and a beautiful, diverse forest. 
• A portion of the land has also been identified as an ideal location for the Land Trust’s future Nature Discovery Center (a welcoming, inclusive gateway to outdoor recreation and natural discovery establishing a community understanding of the value of nature and its protection).

10,000 acres and counting…

The acquisition of the 144 acres that make up the new Hickory Cove Nature Preserve means that now, the Land Trust of North Alabama has more than 10,000 acres of preserved land.

These acres provide habitat and resources to irreplaceable wildlife and plant species, serve as essential spaces for outdoor recreation and discovery, and ensure opportunities for generations to come to experience North Alabama’s unique natural wonders.

“Conserving land in the core of our community, even as we are experiencing this surge in growth, exemplifies the values and belief our community has in saving our unique natural lands. Surpassing 10,000 acres of conserved land is an extraordinary community accomplishment and will serve as a catalyst for even greater conservation efforts.”

Marie Bostick, Land Trust of North Alabama executive director

Land Trust properties are incredibly diverse and beneficial, including flood storage and buffer areas along rivers, creeks, and wetlands, forests that improve air quality and provide wildlife habitat, agricultural lands with rich, fertile soils, and water recharge areas that help maintain a healthy groundwater aquifer.

Beyond the environmental impacts and obvious scenic beauty, these lands also significantly contribute to overall quality of life by enhancing educational opportunities, attracting visitors and businesses to the area, and providing health and wellness resources.

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