News

You’re an important part of our Conservancy community! Please join us for a virtual annual meeting via Zoom (or phone) at 6 pm on Thursday, Nov. 18. Learn about this year’s many activities — including new nature preserves to visit, new trails to hike, new partnerships in the community. And enjoy a talk by Athens…

Artwork unveiling! Here’s the fabulous block print created by local artist Savannah Freeman, as the centerpiece to our Spectacular Appalachia project. Savannah’s artwork – inspired by the wildflowers that bloom each spring in the Bluebell Preserve — will help spotlight Athens Conservancy’s natural lands and the unique spirit of Appalachian Ohio. The endeavor is supported…

Armed with shovels and saws, Pulaskis and weed-whackers, a rugged crew of trail builders is steadily cutting new trails through the Canaan Preserve. Up ahead, Delaney Gibbs deftly rescues delicate plants from the workers’ path, and finds new places for them to thrive. Delaney, who is close to finishing her master of science degree in…

Local artist Savannah Freeman will create a piece of art as the centerpiece for a new project spotlighting Athens Conservancy’s natural lands and the unique spirit of Appalachian Ohio. The project – dubbed Spectacular Appalachia – is supported by a seed grant from Ohio’s Winding Road, and is designed to enlist the talents of a…

Beyond the beauty of towering trees and colorful wildflowers, forests in Ohio are showcases for mushrooms of all kinds. Board member Joe Brehm recently trekked through Tucker Run Preserve, and reports that the fungi display was absolutely stunning, especially in the mature oak-beech woods. He snapped some photos of these mushrooms, from the Bolete, Amanita,…

A big part of Athens Conservancy’s nature preservation efforts is knowing what lives in the preserves. You can help explore the trees, shrubs, flowers, ferns, mushrooms, lichens, mosses, insects, spiders, salamanders, even birds and mammals that call these preserves their home! The Conservancy and the Athens Nature Center initiative have built a dedicated iNaturalist project…

Athens Conservancy keeps growing, and adding to the beautiful, natural spaces protected in and around Athens county. Our two newest preserves, the neighborhood Peach Preserve and the forested Deep Hollow – Dark Skies Preserve, add about 114 acres to our public lands. Nestled in Athens’ Northpoint neighborhood, Peach Preserve consists of a wooded 3.7 acres,…

Love nature? We welcome new members – like you! – to help Athens Conservancy preserve and nurture special spaces for people to explore and enjoy. It’s easy to join us – just click our donate tab for details! Your membership and donations help protect lands in Athens County and surrounding areas, where our preserves and…

Athens Conservancy wants to showcase an original work of nature-related art from a talented artist from Appalachian Ohio. Deadline to apply is July 9. We are looking for an “emerging artist” (ie an artist early in their career) from Ohio’s Appalachian region for our Spectacular Appalachia branded item. Funded by a grant from Ohio’s Winding…

Athens Conservancy is the recipient of two recent grants that will fund efforts to celebrate Appalachian Ohio and connect individuals with the benefits of time spent in nature. Athens Conservancy has received a $4,420 grant from the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio’s Cause Connector. These funds will support the Conservancy’s “Keep Finding Your Way Outdoors” project,…

A memorial gathering for John Knouse is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, June 26, at Strouds Run State Park, according to his daughter, Vivian (Rachel) Knouse. John, who died in January, was a driving force for local land protection and recreational trails. His foresight and dedication were responsible for many local resources enjoyed by Athens…

If you’re out enjoying a walk in the woods around Athens, you may be lucky enough to see a sprightly yellow-feathered visitor! Each spring, small Prothonotary warblers (PROWs for short) arrive in our woods to nest. We talked with Athens Conservancy board member Joe Brehm to find out more about the birds … and how…