Birds of Prey Program at Sams Lake Saturday Nov. 6th

Hosted by Southern Conservation Trust

Southern Conservation Trust presents Dale Arrowood and his Winged Ambassadors at Sams Lake Sanctuary on Saturday afternoon November 6th.

The Winged Ambassadors are a group of trained non-releasable birds of prey that will perform soaring free flight demonstrations over the wetlands. Master Falconer Dale Arrowood will showcase the differences and similarities between a variety of raptor and owl families.

Birds will include Quasimodo the black vulture, various species of owls, several hawks and a pair of kookaburras native to Australia. Don’t miss the gorgeous Gyr falcon, the largest falcon that is most popular for hunting. These birds are not “trick animals” - they simply do what comes naturally to them.

Sams Lake Sanctuary, a restored wetland habitat and certified wildlife sanctuary, is owned and managed by Southern Conservation Trust, a non-profit community land trust based in Fayette County. It is open dawn to dusk and is the home of deer, wild turkey, beaver, and many birds. Sams Lake is on Old Senoia Road, south of Redwine Road just outside Fayetteville.

This exciting and educational program begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 6th, weather permitting. Bring your camera to capture close-ups of these majestic birds. Donations will be requested for Winged Ambassadors Environmental for care of the birds.

For more information and directions, visit the Trust’s website sctlandtrust.org, call 770-486-7774 or
email info@sctlandtrust.org
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Fayette Land Trust Protects More Greenspace Brent Scarbrough Completes Third Conservation Project

Even though development has slowed recently, the Southside of Metro Atlanta remains one of the fastest growing areas in the state, resulting in the loss of farms and wildlife habitat that many residents value. Thanks to a local land trust, now more than 1300 acres have been protected from development forever.

Southern Conservation Trust completed two conservation projects in December 2007 that permanently preserved over 200 acres in Fayette and Meriwether counties.

Brent Scarbrough, a well known local developer and utility contractor, finalized a Conservation Agreement on a 110 acre property for sale in South Fayette that helps protect water quality and wildlife habitat. The Conservation Agreement reduces the number of potential lots from seventeen to three and prohibits timber cutting, allowing the new landowners to enjoy their own nature preserve. In 2006, Scarbrough donated a 60 acre property that the Trust will manage as a reforestation demonstration site with the help of Scarbrough & Company and local volunteers.

Thomas Bogle and his family purchased their 130 acre farm near Greenville for a family retreat, a haven from busy lives in crowded North Metro Atlanta. They restored the early 1900’s home and planted an apple orchard and food plots for deer. The Bogles could develop their farm into 22 5-acre lots, forever destroying the rolling fields, ponds and pine forest. But protecting the land’s rural character for future generations was more important.

The Bogles protected their farm permanently with a Conservation Agreement that allows agriculture, sustainable timber harvesting and several vacation cabins, as long as natural resources are protected.

“It was a pleasure to work with the Bogles, who are as passionate about preserving an agricultural way of life as we are,” said Executive Director Abby Jordan.

In 2006, both the U.S. Congress and the Georgia legislature approved conservation incentive programs for those who donate land or a Conservation Agreement to a land trust. When a landowner restricts his property from development, the resulting loss of land value may be considered a charitable donation that can result in lower federal and state income and property taxes.

Said Jordan, “We hope the Scarbrough and Bogle donations encourage others to contact the Trust about protecting their land. The tax incentives can be very attractive, but most importantly, the landowners and the entire community will forever enjoy the farms and forests preserved for future generations.”

Southern Conservation Trust operates in the counties south of Metro Atlanta and the Upper Flint River basin. For more information on Conservation Agreements and the expanded tax benefits available to landowners, contact Southern Conservation Trust at (770) 486-7774 or info@sctlandtrust.org.

Corporate Conservation Leader in 2007: Bank of North Georgia

Photo: BNG Sr. Vice President John Hall presents donation to Trust Chair Kevin Thames

For the second year in a row, Bank of North Georgia (formerly Peachtree National Bank) topped the list of conservation business donors to Southern Conservation Trust, a nonprofit land trust based in Fayette County. World Gym of Peachtree City was also a major donor supporting greenspace preservation in 2007.

“Bank of North Georgia is an admirable corporate leader in our community. We appreciate the generosity of the Bank and World Gym in supporting our Community Conservation Program,” said Abby Jordan, Executive Director of Southern Conservation Trust.

Southern Conservation Trust, the only land trust in the Southern Crescent, accepted two conservation easements in 2007 that permanently protected 250 acres from development. The Trust has now preserved 1,300 acres in Fayette, Clayton, Meriwether and rural South Fulton.

“Southern Conservation Trust is a great asset to the Southside of Metro Atlanta. We strongly believe in the work they’re doing,” said Bank of North Georgia Community Executive John Hall..
Southern Conservation Trust works with landowners and developers to protect land in Metro Atlanta’s Southern Crescent and the Upper Flint River basin. For more information on community conservation, contact Southern Conservation Trust at (770) 486-7774 or info@sctlandtrust.org.