Virginia Outdoors Foundation

09/28/2026

We are thrilled to announce that VOF has awarded $2,099,672 in Preservation Trust Fund grants to support 11 open-space conservation and community projects across the Commonwealth! 🌿

From expanding local parks to protecting working family farms, scenic river corridors, and vital wildlife habitats, these projects will help preserve Virginia's natural beauty and expand public outdoor access for generations to come.

Congratulations to all of our grant recipients:

• Boxerwood Education Association (Rockbridge Co.)
• Bryant Land Company (Southampton Co.)
• Richlands Farm (Culpeper Co.)
• Stevenson Farm (Smyth Co.)
• City of Danville
• Crystal Springs Farm (Sussex Co.)
• Envision Critz, LLC (Patrick Co.)
• Friends of Dragon Run (Middlesex Co.)
• Long Meadows Farm (Bedford Co.)
• Town of Boones Mill (Franklin Co.)
• Town of Woodstock (Shenandoah Co.)

Read the project summaries and learn more about our grant programs: https://www.vof.org/2026/09/25/vof-awards-2m-in-grants-to-11-open-space-projects/

Latest grants supports projects to protect working farms, historic landscapes, and public parks.

09/24/2026

We were proud to join our partners in Stafford County Government, Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT), Marine Corps Base Quantico, and others for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Tank Creek Preserve near Patawomeck Park this afternoon. NVCT’s acquisition of this 20-acre parcel was supported by a grant from VOF’s Preservation Trust Fund and exemplifies NVCT’s motto of “Saving nearby nature.” We know residents of Stafford will enjoy the preserve for generations to come.

09/17/2026

This week, VOF celebrated its 60th anniversary at the Executive Mansion, where First Gentleman Adam Spanberger presented a proclamation from Governor Abigail Spanberger recognizing September 15 as Virginia Outdoors Foundation Day.

We were honored to gather with past and present VOF trustees and staff, along with partners from land trusts, state agencies, and members of the General Assembly. Their dedication over six decades has helped protect open space and special places across the Commonwealth.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this milestone moment. Here are a few photos from the event!

09/02/2026

VOF conservation assistant Rachel Watts recently joined field zoologists from the Virginia Natural Heritage Program at Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation for a freshwater mussel survey on the Cowpasture River in Bath County.

The team surveyed a 344‑acre VOF easement—protected since 1994—which includes more than two miles of river frontage. After the landowner kindly granted access, DCR used the site to investigate potential mussel habitat.

Using aqua scopes, the team searched the riverbed, identifying, sexing, and measuring the mussels they found. These surveys help DCR better understand mussel populations and map critical habitat across Virginia.

Want to learn more about freshwater mussels and DCR’s statewide mapping efforts? Visit: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/insights/mussel-hotspots-mapped

08/28/2026

🌿 Thank you, Bessie Weller Elementary School, for sharing this wonderful update on the Weller Woods Learning Trail. We’re proud that VOF’s grant helped launch this project, and grateful to the many partners and volunteers who brought it to life.
Weller Woods has quickly become a special place for exploration and discovery, and we’re excited to see it continue to grow with community support. Congratulations to everyone involved! 💚

08/26/2026

Project Spotlight: VOF is proud to support the development of the Appomattox River Trail, which will extend 25 miles from Lake Chesdin on the Dinwiddie-Chesterfield county lines to the confluence with the James River in Hopewell. We have provided grants to FOLAR - Friends of the Lower Appomattox River and Capital Region Land Conservancy to help acquire property that was transferred to Chesterfield County and the City of Petersburg to be managed for public access. Visit our YouTube channel to hear from partners about the significance of this trail and see more of the stunning beauty it has to offer. Link in bio.

07/20/2026

👏Congrats to Appomattox farmer Glenn Dye on receiving Virginia Farmer of the Year honors from the prestigious Sunbelt Ag Expo. He owns and operates Promise Land Farm on 901 acres of VOF-protected land in Appomattox County. You can read more about his stewardship of the land and interest in cutting-edge ag technology in the link posted below.

Congratulations to Glenn Dye, of Promise Land Farm in Appomattox, on being named the 2026 Virginia Farmer of the Year by the Sunbelt Ag Expo!🚜🌾
This recognition highlights Glenn’s outstanding commitment to sustainable farming, community leadership, and his dedication to keeping Virginia’s agricultural industry thriving.
Join us in congratulating Glenn in the comments below, and read more about his story and his farming operation here: https://sunbeltexpo.com/2026-virginia-farmer-of-the-year-glenn-dye/

06/18/2026

VOF is making $1.8 million available through its Preservation Trust Fund to protect open space in Virginia. Applications are due July 29, 2026.

A free online workshop will be held June 30 from 1–2 p.m. to review requirements and help applicants navigate the process. Register at https://vof.org/ptf.

Questions? Email [email protected].

Read the announcement at https://www.vof.org/2026/06/17/vof-opens-1-8-million-grant-round-for-open-space-projects/

06/10/2026

New VLCF grant round now open. If you’re working to protect farmland, forests, open spaces, historic sites, or natural areas in Virginia, don’t miss this opportunity. Details from DCR below.

05/13/2026

Awesome conservation news in Henrico County this week as the Capital Region Land Conservancy (CRLC) transferred 61 acres of prime farmland to the Central Virginia Agrarian Community Land Trust (CVACLT). The project was supported by a $400,000 grant from VOF's Preservation Trust Fund.

This project is a win for both conservation and community by:

🌱 Supporting a BIPOC-led initiative to build resilient regional food systems.
🌾 Preserving more than 54 acres of prime farmland along the Virginia Capital Trail.
🛡️ Protecting significant historical resources, including core Civil War battlefield areas where United States Colored Troops (USCT) fought.
💧 Safeguarding water quality with a 100-foot forested buffer along a tributary to Four Mile Creek.

Congratulations to CRLC, CVACLT, and the Henricopolis Soil & Water Conservation District on this incredible collaborative effort to ensure this land remains a productive and historic resource for generations to come.

Read more about the project: https://capitalregionland.org/2026/05/crlc-transfers-prime-farmland-to-central-virginia-agrarian-community-land-trust/