The LandTrust has always prided itself on working solely with willing landowners. These landowners come to us with a desire to see their land protected against future development. However, in the case of one expansive tract of pristine forestland in Randolph County, it was actually the developer, with bulldozers on site, who offered The LandTrust a last minute opportunity to purchase the highly threatened property. As illustrated by the map, this site was an exciting opportunity to protect 290 acres (affectionately called the “Birkhead Property”) of forests and streams adjacent to the Birkhead Wilderness Area.
Tucked away in southwestern Randolph County, the Birkhead Wilderness Area lies just beyond the horizon of the Piedmont’s major cities and highways. This obscurity has allowed the region to maintain its rural roots, which helps provide the perfect backdrop for the Birkheads. As the only designated Wilderness Area within the Uwharrie National Forest, the Birkheads are free of motorized vehicles and other modern niceties. Its nearly 6,000 acres are intended to be a reprieve from traffic, cell phones and all the other headaches brought about by everyday life. Primitive hiking trails allow visitors to trek many miles, interrupted only by a squirrel scampering in the leaves or birds chattering in the forest canopy.
The rolling Uwharrie Mountain landscape houses a wealth of farms and forests. These rural conditions combine to create some of North Carolina’s cleanest and most aquatically significant streams. Near the top of the list is the West Fork of the Little River, a recipient of the Nationally Significant Aquatic Habitat designation due to the presence of six species of rare freshwater mussel. The Birkhead Property houses over 9,000 feet of Little River tributaries that originate either on the site or within the Birkhead Wilderness Area. Had these small streams been carved up by roads, culverts and houses, the negative impact on downstream water quality would have been drastic.
Additionally, the Birkhead Property is home to many plants and animals that rely upon mature hardwood forests for their survival. Plants like jacks-in-the-pulpit, cinnamon and royal ferns, and wild blueberries welcome the shady, moist environment. The same conditions are also conducive to habitat for the four-toed salamander, a rare amphibian found in North Carolina. Other species like this box turtle have also found a home on the property.
The LandTrust would like to thank the Conservation Trust for North Carolina for providing the necessary financing for this project. Without their involvement, we would not be able to celebrate this tremendous conservation achievement. Thanks to CTNC’s assistance, we can now take pride in the fact that 290 acres that were to be paved over by year’s end are now helping to maintain the peaceful serenity of the Birkhead Wilderness Area.
