Land Trust for Tennessee | Beech Creek Valley

THE LAND TRUST FOR TENNESSEE ANNOUNCES CONSERVATION OF FOUR NEW PROPERTIES IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY

Adjacent Landowners Work Together to Preserve Rural Way of Life

Photography: Nancy Rhoda
April 7, 2008: The Land Trust for Tennessee today announced that four landowners have conserved 256 acres of woodlands and farmland along South Beech Creek Road through permanent conservation agreements with the statewide nonprofit land conservation organization. Beech Creek Valley sits like a fragile flower nestled between Grassland to the west and the fast-growing Brentwood city limits to the east. South Beech Creek Road winds through the valley, flanked by a tunnel of trees and series of old stone walls. While it was once protected by inaccessibility, it is now safe-guarded by a group of like-minded neighbors who banded together to maintain the woods and scenic hills that make his snug valley so unique. In the heart of the valley, Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary – a private, nonprofit nature preserve – makes its home, providing sanctuary for wildlife and environmental education to the community. The valley is bookended by two previously protected properties, the 208-acre Mary Ann and John T. Sugg Farm to the north and the 72-acre farm of retired Judge Denmark Bell at the south end.

Now, through the enormous generosity of three new landowners, Mike and Cindy Corn, Brenda Bass and Dr. Mildred Stahlman, some 256 more acres of contiguous wildlife habitat, hills, forest and farmland in the valley are protected forever through permanent conservation easements with The Land Trust for Tennessee. Our mission of preservation and conservation is strengthened with each additional protected acre,” said Leading the charge for conservation in the area, Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary has been instrumental is educating their neighbors about The Land Trust. “Our mission of preservation and conservation is strengthened with each additional protected acres,“ said Owl's Hill Nature Sanctuary Executive Director, Jean Buchanan. “We are extremely grateful for the selfless acts of our Beech Creek Valley neighbors in securing their historic properties through conservation easements with The Land Trust. .By protecting land within our fragile corridor, they help ensure that future generations of wildlife have habitats to call home, and future generations of children have places to interact with nature. The future of nature within our valley depends upon gifts such as these. They validate our Owl's Hill mission.”

Beech Creek Protected Properties The newly protected land includes the following completed conservation easements:

Landowners Mike and Cindy Corn worked with The Land Trust to protect Beech Grove farm, an historic 122-acre family farm. The land contains woods, frontage on Cartwright Creek, a large and active spring, a family cemetery, and an historic home built with
stone from the property and local rock quarries. The Corns wanted their sons and grandchildren to be able to enjoy the farm for years to come.
Dr. Mildred Stahlman completed a conservation easement on approximately 40 acres of nature forest adjacent to Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary. When Dr. Stahlman bought the property in the 1960s, she restored the 1850s log cabin and expanded it by assembling parts of other older log cabins brought to the property. The result is truly in tune with nature; her property provides additional natural habitat for the wildlife at Owl’s Hill
and a beautiful scenic view along South Beech Creek Road.
Brenda Bass raises horses on her scenic 80-acre Basswood Farm next to Owl’s Hill. She decided to conserve the land to protect the woods, hills, pastureland, and open space along Beech Creek Road - for her son, grandchildren and neighbors alike.
Mary Ann Sugg and John Sugg conserved an additional 20 acres of woodlands at the north corner of Hillsboro Road and Murray Lane, adding to their earlier keystone easement adjacent to Owl’s Hill.

A voluntary conservation agreement, also known as a conservation easement, is a contract between a landowner and a land trust, government agency, or another qualified organization in which the owner places permanent restrictions on the future uses of some or all of his property to protect scenic, wildlife, or agricultural resources. Conservation agreements are specifically tailored to meet important conservation purposes and the compatible individual needs of the landowner. The easement is donated by the owner to the land trust, which then has the authority and obligation to enforce the terms of the easement "in perpetuity." The landowner still owns the property and can use it, sell it, or leave it to heirs, but the restrictions of the easement stay with the land forever.

“We are grateful for the vision of and support from the South Beech Creek landowners to take steps to protect this beautiful valley. Those neighbors, along with our friends at Owl’s Hill, personify the mission of The Land Trust and are stewards of our land in Tennessee,” Nelson said. “The protection of South Beech Creek Road is a prime example of what happens when neighbors collectively work together. There are now more than 800 acres of contiguous land forever protected in this rapidly developing corridor, all for future generations to enjoy. I know the whole community joins us in thanking them for what they have done for the public good”.

Read more about The Beech Creek Valley in author Sara R. Lee's recent book, Beechville, Then, Now and In Between, available from our partner The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County office by calling 615-591-8500.

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