Experience New Trails at Horton Grove Nature Preserve in Durham County

DURHAM, N.C. - Dec. 1, 2014 - PRLog -- Triangle Land Conservancyhas completed work on three miles of new trails at the Horton Grove Nature Preserve adjoining the Stagville State Historic Site in Durham County and will host a grand opening celebration for the public on Saturday, December 6, 2014 from 1-4 pm (rain date will be Sunday, December 7 from 1-4 pm). Please join local dignitaries, project partners, and community members for a grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting. Following a short presentation, TLC staff will lead optional guided hikes throughout the preserve.

With the completion of these three miles, Horton Grove Nature Preserve now features eight miles of trails providing a wonderful resource for walking, running and reflection. These trails wind through meadows and mature forests, including upland oak-hickory forests, beech stands, and several stands of mixed pine and hardwood forests. The trails are named in honor of the families that long cared for the land before and after the site was a plantation. Horton Grove also protects water quality by safeguarding five miles of streams that flow into Raleigh’s drinking water supply, Falls Lake. Generous funding for trail planning and construction was provided by the federal Recreational Trails Program through North Carolina’s Division of Parks and Recreation, the Durham Open Space Matching Grants program and REI. Volunteers with TLC’s Conservation Corps greatly assisted in building the trails.

“We believe that opportunities for people to connect with nature are essential to a metropolitan region’s vitality and quality of life, and the trails at Horton Grove provide easy access to many Triangle residents for both getting outside and exercise,” said Chad Jemison, Triangle Land Conservancy’s Executive Director. “Building trails requires many resources and we want to take this opportunity to thank our funders, volunteers, board, and staff for their commitments to this project.”

At just over 708 acres, Horton Grove is Triangle Land Conservancy’s largest nature preserve.  The preserve encompasses land once part of the historic Stagville Plantation on both sides of Jock Road near the Treyburn Development in northern Durham County. Celebration participants are also invited to attend the free “Christmas in the Big House, Christmas at the Quarters” event at the adjacent Stagville State Historic Site from 12-4 pm.

Directions to Horton Grove: From Durham, take Roxboro Street north, passing under I-85.  About 1.8 miles after passing I-85, turn right onto Old Oxford Road.  Continue on Old Oxford for 7.5 miles. Turn left onto Jock Road (gravel) just as you reach a sharp bend in Old Oxford Road.  Continue on Jock Road for one mile to reach the main parking area on the left.

About Triangle Land Conservancy

Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) is a membership-supported, nonprofit striving to create a healthier and more vibrant Triangle region by safeguarding clean water, protecting natural habitats, supporting local farms and food, and connecting people with nature through land protection and stewardship, catalyzing community action, and collaboration. TLC’s protected sites in Wake, Durham, Orange, Chatham, Johnston, and Lee counties encompass more than 16,000 acres, including six nature preserves open year-round to visitors and a canoe access area, all free of charge. For more information on Triangle Land Conservancy, please visit www.triangleland.org.