The Summer 2009 edition of Stewardship News, a publication of Audubon International includes a feature story on Bundoran Farm and its recent designation as a Gold Signature Sanctuary - the first Gold Signature Sanctuary in Virginia and the first working farm to be included in the Sanctuary program. In the article written by Nancy Richardson the overall Preservation Development approach is describes. In addition, there is a good overview of some of the various initiatives completed or underway that enabled Bundoran Farm to receive this high honor.
Some of the key elements include:
• having new roads follow existing farm roads and paths where possible to limit grading and soil disturbance;
• running roads along the edge of pastures to limit fragmentation of grazing areas;
• working with local universities exploring alternative measures of improving water quality in active cattle pastures;
• innovative approaches to removal and/or control of invasive plant species;
• protection of 90% of existing landscape;
• enhancement of wetlands and wildlife habitat;
Attached is copy of the Ms. Richardson’ full article which can perhaps best be summed up in her closing paragraph.
“What was especially rewarding for this farm girl from Kentucky in reviewing the property was to see the meshing of the new concepts with the tried-and-true, to view the preservation of a rural setting, and to see the opportunity for all involved to benefit from this innovative type of development. Bundoran Farm’s development process will go on for may years to come but the result already is a remarkable demonstration that when a project is sensitively and thoughtfully designed, wildlife and people, farming and forestry, natural and built environments can all live together harmoniously.”
