Capital Region Land Conservancy Joins National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways

Henrico, VA – Capital Region Land Conservancy’s (CRLC) Varina LandLab Conservation Area has received designation as a Chesapeake Gateways Site within the Chesapeake Gateways Network. Convened by National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways, this network of important places provides enhanced visitor experiences for the public to explore, learn about, and help conserve the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. The Varina LandLab is a 353-acre property located in eastern Henrico County that provides public access to the outdoors and environmental education opportunities. Owned and managed by CRLC, the property is dubbed a “LandLab” to serve as an outdoor classroom for K-12 students and for curious minds of all ages.

“Capital Region Land Conservancy is honored to partner with the National Park Service and have the Varina LandLab designated as a Chesapeake Gateways Site,” said Executive Director, Parker Agelasto. “Our goal of conserving this property and connecting meaningful experiences for the public to engage with nature and learn from the incredible history of the property aligns with the National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways’ key pillar of creating welcoming spaces in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Any day of the week, visitors can explore more than four miles of trails while discovering scenic views of the James River, Four Mile Creek, and Roudabout Creek.

It’s incredible that nearly 500 species of birds, plants, animals, insects, and fungi have been identified by community scientists at the Varina LandLab since its opening.”

The Varina LandLab Conservation Area features a mix of woodlands, grass and wildflower meadows, river and creek bluffs, and an expansive history. Located off historic Route 5 and the Virginia Capital Trail and next to Henrico County’s Deep Bottom Park, the property was gifted to Capital Region Land Conservancy in 2021 and opened for public access in May 2023. It has been permanently protected since 2017 by a conservation easement co-held by Capital Region Land Conservancy and the Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District.

Since taking ownership of the property, CRLC and partners have planted over 1,000 trees to expand the riparian buffer, restored 500-feet of an eroding drainage area, conducted prescribed burns on 100 acres of grassland, experimented with alternative treatments of invasive species, and preserved sensitive natural communities of native plants.

This landscape also bears witness to layers of indigenous, colonial, and Civil War history. From the high ground along Four Mile Creek where indigenous people lived since 2,000 BCE to bluffs overlooking the James River at an important pontoon bridge crossing where more than 28,000 Union troops advanced into the battles of First Deep Bottom, Second Deep Bottom, and New Market Heights during the Civil War, this hallowed ground can reveal many untold stories.

The Varina LandLab is located on Deep Bottom Road and is open daily from dawn to dusk for hiking, birding, and environmental education. Visitors can enter at any of three parking area trailheads and will find interpretive signage as well as the site-specific environmental art installation Repurpose: a midpoint by sculptor, Reece Camp Carter. Directions, park rules, maps, as well as self-guided nature and history tours of the Varina LandLab trails are available at CRLC’s website.

CRLC hosts guided hikes and special events at the Varina LandLab for a fee. Learn more or donate to support the Varina LandLab online at: capitalregionland.org/projects/varina-landlab.

The National Park Service provides financial and technical assistance through the Chesapeake Gateways Network to promote, enhance, and conserve special places in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Included in the network are diverse natural, cultural, historical, and recreational sites, trails, museums, parks, refuges, interpretive and orientation facilities, and associated programs. These places, and Chesapeake Gateways as a whole, serve as entry points and the key guide for experiencing the Chesapeake watershed. Please visit the NPS Chesapeake Gateways website for more information about visiting Chesapeake Gateways.

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. Visit us at www.capitalregionland.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/capitalregionlandconservancy, and at Instagram www.instagram.com/capitalregionlandconservancy.

About the National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways:

Established by Congress in 1998, NPS Chesapeake Gateways is a partnership network and community assistance program. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, the office serves the full 41-million-acre Chesapeake Bay watershed, providing authentic Chesapeake experiences for 21st Century communities and visitors. Visit us at www.nps.gov/Chesapaeake, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChesapeakeNPS, and Instagram www.Instagram.com/ChesapeakeNPS.