Woods and Waters is committed to honoring the donations of all our landowners by protecting the natural areas they love.

bowen branch, owen county

The spring showing of native plants and wildflowers along Bowen Branch in Owen County, Ky., is something to see. This natural display of diversity is just one reason landowners Connie May and Loren Curtis decided to put their property into an easement with Woods and Waters Land Trust.

“Our land is embraced on three sides by creeks. We don’t own all of the land on both sides, but the forest on both sides of the creek is beautiful and mature with lots of big trees,” May said.

Acres: 79

Stream: Bowen Branch

BIG JOHN BRANCH, FRANKLIN COUNTY

Mark Roberts and Betty Beshoar partnered with WWLT to ensure that 57 acres on Elkhorn Creek will always be a natural area, including the endangered plant Braun’s rockcress. They have been restoring the natural areas on the property and were sure they wanted it to stay a natural area. Mark writes “We can create a place where nature gets to rule. A place where trees can live to maturity; where Braun’s rockcress can exist unthreatened. We can set aside one hill in Peaks Mill that will always wildflowers in the spring, be green in the summer, colorful in the fall and quietly sheltering wildlife in the winter.

Acres: 57

Stream: Big John Branch and Elkhorn Creek

BRAMMEL BRANCH, Owen County

WWLT's first easement, encompassing 107 acres of forestland at the headwaters of the Cedar Creek watershed, shares a ½ mile boundary with Kleber Wildlife Management Area and is also part of a 4,000 acres of continuous forest.

The land contains 19th century archeological sites, stone walls, the family graveyard, several seeps/springs, and a variety of forest types and conditions. It provides habitat for fox, weasel, coyote, bobcat, wild turkey, deer, and songbirds.

“When my mother was growing up in the city on Long Island, she dreamed of living in a forest someday,” said family member Mark Schimmoeller. “Moving to the woods was a dream come true for our family. These woods have taught us and inspired us in many ways. That we can now give the gift of permanent protection to this land makes us deeply grateful.”

Caye Family – Cane Run

Visiting the Caye property in April is inspiring: bluebells cover the creek bottoms; trout lily carpets the hillsides; and phacelia, waterleaf and Jacob’s Ladder bloom in abundance. What is also inspiring is Keith’s commitment to keeping his forest healthy. He actively removes pest plants. A conservation easement is his way of ensuring that his commitment to his sons, who share his love of the land, continues beyond his lifetime.

Acres: 150

Stream: Cane Run/ Kentucky River

Less than ¼ mile to a 1100 acres of continuous forest

Coffey Family-Mink Run

Upon finalizing long term protection of their 43 acres of woodland, Don Coffey noted “We love this place and want it to stay the way it is. They guarantee it will happen.”

Stream: over 800 feet of frontage on Mink Run/ Benson Creek/Kentucky River

Contributes to 1600 acres of continuous forest

Features: Some of the oak trees on this Shelby County property are 7 and 8 feet across and, partnering with WWLT, they have protected this forest forever.

“Hello In There”– Benson Creek, franklin county

The quirky name for this partnership has endured along with the commitment of two young men that bought forest to conserve it 40 years ago. Dan Hauck and John Wigginton are still committed to this 72 acres of forest on Benson Creek. The creek frontage supports Woods bunchflower, a plant related to lilies that is listed as “state threatened.”

Stream: 1800 feet of forested frontage on Benson Creek/ Kentucky River.

Contributes to 2500 acres of continuous forest

Features: Wood’s bunchflower (Melanthium woodii), a state threatened plant occurs on the slopes of the stream, the upper reaches of Benson Creek.

GREGORY WOODS, FRANKLIN COUNTY

Gregory Woods was recognized as a significant natural area in 1986 by ecologists surveying the area. They noticed it was notably untouched, had remarkably old trees, and a rich diversity in the spring flora.

Since that walk in 1986, the landowners in the area, the extended Schimmoeller family and other neighbors were inspired to buy this property when the surrounding uplands were being considered for development and logging. And in 2017, it was protected forever.

Acres: 76

Stream: Long Branch

Mature forest and the forest along both sides of Long Branch make this a wonderful natural area that contributes to the health of the region.

This is a slide show of images taken by photographer and WWLT supporter, Ed Lawrence. All of these images were taken on WWLT protected properties in Henry, Owen, Franklin and Shelby counties. There is a several second pause between each slide.