Henrico, VA – With their fifth donated conservation easement to Capital Region Land Conservancy (CRLC), Randy and Meade Welch have again shown their dedication to protecting the rural landscape of eastern Henrico County and its natural and historic amenities for generations to come. Known as “Kingsland Bend,” the 39 acres at 2231 Kingsland Road are now protected in perpetuity by a conservation easement with CRLC. The easement protects the historic battlefield landscape and scenic views from Kingsland Road while preventing further residential development in an area witnessing accelerated growth. The easement safeguards soils for future agricultural use and protects and enhances water quality as well as aquatic and riparian habitat in nearby Roundabout Creek, the James River, and the downstream Chesapeake Bay. 

Falling within one of CRLC’s strategic focus areas, the preservation of Kingsland Bend marks another conservation success story for both CRLC and the Welchs. The protection of Kingsland Bend builds on earlier efforts by the partners, including 353-acres approximately one mile to the east that the Welchs conserved and then donated the land to CRLC and is now the Varina LandLab Conservation Area.

With its proximity to the Varina LandLab and Henrico County’s Deep Bottom Park and lying approximately one-half mile to the south of the future New Market Park at Route 5, Kingsland Bend is an important green infrastructure connector. Its protection also conserves rural scenic views appreciated by the traveling public as its frontage on Kingsland Road is within the Captain John Smith Adventures on the James River thematic driving tour route, as noted by the Virginia Outdoors Plan Mapper.

Commenting on his decision to voluntarily protect the Kingsland Bend property, Randy Welch said, “A conservation easement on this tract of land provides the Varina community another building block for important planning. The location is extremely significant to local and national history and its protection provides open space around Henrico County facilities.”

The protection of the property in its relatively undeveloped state also helps protect the environmental quality of the region and is designated as top priority for conservation in the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) ConserveVirginia model for Natural Habitat and Ecosystem Diversity. ConserveVirginia is DCR’s land conservation strategy for identifying Virginia’s highest priority lands for protection. With approximately 1,285 feet of frontage on an unnamed stream that flows into Roundabout Creek and then into the James River and eventually downstream to the Chesapeake Bay, the easement protects the land and water to create improved water quality values and healthy habitats.  

The Kingsland Bend property exemplifies the Varina District’s agricultural and rural character. Its 27 acres of prime farmland and soils of statewide importance have the highest agricultural value as determined by the Virginia Heritage Data Explorer (NHDE), which also notes the entire property is most vulnerable to the threat of development.

Of local, state, and national importance, the entire property is designated in the ConserveVirginia model for Cultural and Historic Preservation due to its association with core battlefields from the First Battle of Deep Bottom (July 20 – 27, 1864) and Second Battle of Deep Bottom (August 13 – 20, 1864) and study area of the Battle of New Market Heights.

“For nearly a decade Randy and Meade have partnered with CRLC to conserve land in their beloved Varina so that it can remain much like it has throughout their lifetime as residents,” said Parker C. Agelasto, Executive Director of CRLC. “Their efforts have helped to ensure that hundreds of acres of working farms and forests are preserved while shielding the incredible natural resources of the area from the threat of conversion.”

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About Capital Region Land Conservancy (CRLC): Capital Region Land Conservancy is dedicated to conserving the natural and historic resources of Virginia’s Richmond region for the benefit of people and nature. The nonprofit land trust serves the City of Richmond and 19 surrounding counties. Since 2005, CRLC has helped protect more than 15,000 acres, including easements on more than 5,000 acres.  www.capitalregionland.org

Contact:
Parker Agelasto, Executive Director
202.302.0153
parker@capitalregionland.org