Thank you for visiting my personal Brumley Expansion Fundraising page! 

Dear Friends,

I am writing to you today to ask for your support of the expansion of the Brumley Nature Preserve, which includes 60 additional acres adjacent to the southern portion of the property.  We are fundraising to help finish the construction of new walking and biking trails, which will connect to Brumley South as well as new signage and a parking lot off University Station Rd.   I’ve agreed to help raise money for this campaign because it means so much to me.  

As many of you know, our family shares a special connection to Brumley Nature Preserve.  I drive past the parking lot more than I'd like to admit, but I can tell you that it is almost always full! The pandemic forced many of us to slow down and has allowed the luckiest of us to spend more time outside.  The bird songs, forest, meadow and pond have been a kind of therapy for so many. It is something we often take for granted, but fresh air and clean water are critical for mental and physical health.  And while I’m sure we all agree that access to nature should be inclusive and free, land conservation and public nature preserves rely on community support. 

I am inspired when I think about George and Julia Brumley and how they protected this beautiful land from the large subdivision that was planned here. It takes a special kind of person to invest in land conservation. It takes a long view.  Biological surveys have documented approximately 260 different species of flora and fauna on the preserve, including beavers, bobcats, wild turkeys, muskrats, frogs and turtles.  There are miles of trails for birding, hiking, running and mountain biking.  There is forest, meadows, a pond and benches.  There is peace, beauty and serenity.  This land is also a critical component of the 25 mile wildlife corridor that extends from Jordan Lake to Eno River State Park.  And, it protects Stony Creek, an important waterway that flows into Falls Lake, the drinking water for Raleigh.

If you are not familiar with Triangle Land Conservancy, I want to share my enthusiasm for the effective strides that TLC is making in protecting natural habitats, safeguarding clean water, connecting people with nature and supporting local farms and food.  TLC has protected over 21,000 acres of land in the Triangle, and in addition to Brumley, TLC maintains six other nature preserves, all open to the public every day.  I am also proud to support TLC in actively working to end systemic racism, which for centuries has led to ongoing inequities in access to enjoyment and ownership of land.  Check out the Good Ground Initiative and the conversation TLC is having around using conservation tools to provide farmers and foresters of color access to conserved land at prices unaffected by development potential. https://www.triangleland.org/good-ground-initiative.

I’ve set an ambitious goal of $5,000 for the Brumley Expansion and a very generous local family has agreed to match every donation dollar for dollar, allowing us to double our impact! 

I'd love to meet you on the trails or tell you more about TLC anytime. 

Gratefully,

Cindy Pacchiana

cindypacc@longviewnc.com