Student partnerships have been a constant source of inspiration and hope for our staff here at VOF’s Preserve at Bull Fun Mountains. Back in 2019, industrious students form James Madison High School led a project to remove woody invasives along Catharpin Creek and replace them with native black willow (Salix Nigra) trees within our Jackson…
If you have been fortunate enough to attend one of the VOF’s guided hikes, you likely heard some pretty amazing stories about the people that once called Bull Run Mountains home. From the intrepid Hampton Cole, to the remarkable array of cemeteries where hundreds of ancestors are lain to rest, staff, fellows, and visitors alike…
This past Saturday, preserve manager Joe Villari and I were thrilled to welcome fourteen participants to the north section for a guided hike. While we spent the afternoon enjoying the unique cultural and natural features, I was struck with gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of this land’s ongoing stewardship, specifically as a…
One of the many benefits of BRMNAP’s Fellowship Program is the constant influx of experts in all manner of fields. This year’s Natural Science Fellow, Lauren Fuchs is a connoisseur of all things slimy and scaled, so we knew we had to ask her to lead a herp-focused…
Continuing our series on the people that make the Preserve such a special place, today we’ll be meeting the ever-adventurous Jeannan Foster. Like so many of the people involved with this evolving project, it is hard to characterize her role in just one way. Over her 6+ years of service, she has been a trail-maintainer,…
When it comes to least-loved wildlife species, ticks are one of the first that jump to mind. And understandably so, since they are vectors for a variety of diseases affecting both humans and our pets. Due to multiple factors including climate change and forest fragmentation, incidence of such tick-borne diseases is on the rise….
My friend, William H. “Marty” Martin, was born in Leesburg Virginia in 1941. While I am devastated to have to share that he suddenly and unexpectedly passed away this week at the age of 80, I am thankful that it was with his wife and daughters by his side. He was a true original in every…
As promised, we continue our spotlight series by introducing you to another member of the Preserve community making a major difference. This time we would like to tell you a bit about BRMNAP’s resident time-traveler, Ben Kligman! While he may not literally be able to go back in time (that we know of), as a…
2023 Artist Fellowship (Bringing our traditional folk music back to life!) Project: Reviving the musical past of the Bull Run Mountains Arts & Disciplines: Folk/Traditional Arts, Music/Sound, Music Composition Theme: Music of the Mountains: Early African-American folk songs, Bluegrass, Blues, and Traditional Folk music Fellowship Award: $5,000.00 Seeking applications from artists representing the widest range…
With almost 2,500 acres of land to maintain, it really does take a village to keep the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve running smoothly. Preserve staff rely on a small army of committed volunteers and research associates and we could not be more thankful for their help. We would like to introduce you to…