The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

The Nature Conservancy has acquired the 98-acre L.F. Bass Jr. Tract in the Quewhiffle Township of Hoke County. The Conservancy will begin work this spring to plant longleaf pine and native grasses on the property.

“This is part of our effort to restore wildlife habitat across the Sandhills,” said the Conservancy’s Sandhills Project Director Ryan Elting. “We’re improving conditions for red-cockaded woodpeckers, fox squirrels and other plants and animals that compose this diverse ecosystem.”

The Conservancy is a member of the NC Sandhills Conservation Partnership, which protects and restores the longleaf pine ecosystem across the region. The Partnership has conserved over 25,000 acres and will be planting its 500,000th longleaf seedling this winter.

Longleaf pine and native grasses are fire-dependent. The first controlled burns for this property are scheduled in 2014.

Annual longleaf tree planting and other volunteer opportunities are available by contacting the Conservancy at (910) 246-0300. Folks interested in exploring the longleaf forest have lots of opportunities across the Sandhills at places such as Weymouth Woods State Natural Area and the Sandhills Game Lands.