Driving Highway 109 towards Winston-Salem in Davidson County the evidence of growth and urban sprawl is apparent. Creeping in from every direction, the cities of High Point, Winston-Salem, and Lexington appear to be determined to consume the last remnants of rural land. Situated directly in the middle of this development pressure is the land owned by the Cridlebaugh family. Ms. Cridlebaugh has decided to go against the grain of development by working with Three Rivers Land Trust (TRLT) to permanently conserve an additional 45 acre parcel of their family land.

The Cridlebaugh family has worked with TRLT over time to permanently conserve their lands in Davidson County. The additional 45 acres adds to the family’s existing conservation legacy and brings the total amount conserved to 210 acres.

“We had to conserve this land and keep it from being developed in the future. I simply couldn’t imagine these lands ever being developed,” states Mary Cridlebaugh, landowner.

“Davidson County has over 90,000 parcels on its tax maps, and only about 1,200 of those are larger than 50 acres. Larger tracts of land like this are essential in providing habitat for our native wildlife,” states Senior Land Protection Specialist Kyle Shores. “With the substantial pressure of development encroaching from all sides, this family understood that land is more than a dollar amount.”

“Ultimately, land is going one of two directions, towards development or towards conservation,” says Executive Director Travis Morehead. “We are grateful that Ms. Cridlebaugh chose conservation.”

To find out how you can support Three Rivers Land Trust’s conservation efforts to save family farms, or to find out how you can conserve your property, please visit their website at www.trlt.org.