The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Voorhees Natural Preserve is located along the northeast bank of the Rappahannock River approximately 45 minutes from Fredericksburg, VA. On November 20th, volunteers with Dominion Power and the Student Conservation Organization will dedicate a work day towards reversing extensive damage inflicted by Hurricane Irene on the Conservancy’s Vorhees Nature Preserve in 2011. The storm destroyed many of the preserve’s trails and rendered impassable a 300’-long bridge spanning tidal marshlands to link the preserve’s trailhead with its system of trails.

This trail day and additional repairs to the bridge set the stage for a re-opening of the Voorhees Nature Preserve next spring for hikers to enjoy the four-miles of trails that offer great river views and opportunities to see bald eagles and other wildlife.

Who/What

20+ volunteers from the Student Conservation Association, Dominion Virginia Power, and Asplundh will work on a handful of projects that include clearing debris and rebuilding, re-routing and re-blazing trails.

Where/When

Volunteers are meeting in the parking lot of the Westmoreland Berry Farm store at 8:30 a.m. on November 20th and will work at the Conservancy’s Voorhees Nature Preserve until around 2:00 p.m.

Over the past year, a lack of in-house equipment and financial resources prevented the Conservancy from repairing the damage and making the trails safe for visitors. As a result, the trails have been closed indefinitely until an affordable and feasible solution could be identified. Such a solution presented itself when the children of Alan Vorhees, who donated the preserve to the Conservancy in 1994, stepped in to ensure the damage would be repaired for the many visitors who enjoy hiking and bird watching at this secluded spot along the Rappahannock River.

For more information visit The Nature Conservancy’s Voorhees Preserve webpage.