14 building lots reduced to one, natural resources and family history preserved
LOUISA, Va., Dec. 13, 2022 – The Land Trust of Virginia (LTV) is pleased to announce a conservation easement in Louisa County thanks to the generosity of owners, Hank and Heather Bilek. This 74-acre property is adjacent to another LTV easement recorded in 2021, creating a network of protection across over 160 acres.
“This property has been in Hank’s family for three generations. He and his parents fled communist Czechoslovakia when Hank was seven,” said Heather. “Hank knows the property like the back of his hand. We have a family cemetery here and hope our children will want to live here as adults or at least keep it in the family. Watching our area grow was concerning and we hoped we would never see a plot of houses on the property that holds so many memories. We love it here and are grateful that it will be preserved for future generations.”
Natural resources now protected include 66.1 acres of “Prime Farmland Soils” or “Farmland Soils of Statewide Importance”, and 6.6 acres of wetlands, including two ponds and a perennial stream.
“The protection the Bilek’s placed on their property benefits not just their own family, but all Virginians,” said LTV Executive Director Sally Price. “The network of easements we are creating in Louisa County strengthen their effectiveness and ensure scenic views, productive farmland and clean waterways for everyone.”
The Bilek’s easement is the 229th easement completed by the Land Trust of Virginia. For more information about their work, please visit http://www.landtrustva.org.
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About the Land Trust of Virginia
The Land Trust of Virginia is a nonprofit organization that partners with private landowners who voluntarily protect and preserve properties with significant historic, scenic, or ecological value. LTV has worked with 229 families, conserving a total of 28,757 acres in 29 counties in Virginia. While LTV charges landowners for their services, the fees charged only cover about 28% of LTV’s actual costs, so fundraising is essential to our mission.