27 building lots permanently erased, open space and historic resources preserved
SPOTSYLVANIA COURTHOUSE, Va., March 15, 2022 – The Land Trust of Virginia (LTV) is pleased to announce a conservation easement in Spotsylvania thanks to the generosity of landowner, Dawn Leonard. This 429-acre property, known as Livingstone Manor, is within four miles of twelve other conserved properties, helping to fill an important puzzle piece of conservation in this rural county.
The Leonard’s property has half a mile of frontage on Robert E. Lee Drive and will protect those scenic rural views. Approximately 231 acres of the property has been identified as being “Prime Farmland Soils” or “Farmland Soils of Statewide Significance”. Additional natural resources protected include 330 acres of forest, 51 acres of wetlands, and a six-acre pond.
The entire property is within the Study Area of the Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield. The Battle occurred between May 8th and 21st of 1864 and cost 18,000 Union and 12,000 Confederate casualties. Union troops tried repeatedly but failed to break the Confederate line. Grant ultimately disengaged from the fight and ordered his men to continue their march south.
“The significant battlefield history that took place on this property qualified Leonard for financial assistance from our Deborah Whittier Fitts Battlefield Stewardship Fund, used to offset our costs on properties with documented battlefield events,” said LTV Executive Director, Ashton Cole. “Now another piece of hallowed ground will remain undisturbed for future generation.”
The Leonard’s easement is the 236th easement completed by the Land Trust of Virginia. For more information about their work, please visit http://www.landtrustva.org.
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About the Land Trust of Virginia
The Land Trust of Virginia is a nonprofit organization that partners with private landowners who voluntarily protect and preserve properties with significant historic, scenic, or ecological value. LTV has worked with 240 families, conserving a total of 30,721 acres in 31 counties in Virginia. While LTV charges landowners for their services, the fees charged only cover about 28% of LTV’s actual costs, so fundraising is essential to our mission.