This Week at Ivy Creek

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Sunday, July 27 | 10:00am

Farm and Barn History Hours

Join us for the opening of the barn at Ivy Creek Natural Area and Historic River View Farm on July 27 from 10 AM - 12 PM. This was formerly the showpiece of the working farm known as River View Farm. It is also one of the reasons that River View Farm is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with the contributions of the Carr/Greer family to their community. Come and learn about the family, their work, and the historic exhibits featuring equipment used on the farm.

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Wednesday, July 30 | 6:30pm

Ivy Talk: How and Why to Grow Hedgerows

Hedgerows, living fences made of trees and shrubs, support biodiverse populations of birds, mammals, and insects. Originally popularized in the United Kingdom, this technique for growing a living boundary can be put into practice in Central Virginia. In this talk, Piedmont Master Gardener Volunteer Claire Denton-Spalding will speak about the history of hedgerows and benefits to native plants and animals. She will also share information and best practices about how to plant a hedgerow in the Piedmont area.  

Claire Denton-Spalding is a consultant for the federal government and became a master gardener volunteer in 2023. Her earliest gardening memory is of making an English-style garden in her backyard as a school project in 8th grade, so an interest in hedgerows is a natural outgrowth of that project. Claire has grown an English style cottage garden in front of her townhouse, using native plants and herbs and grows food at her Azalea Park community garden plot. In addition to being a Master Gardener, she is a Charlottesville Area Tree Steward and has a certificate in Permaculture Design from the University of Richmond.

this Ivy Talk is in person at the Education Building at Ivy Creek. Registration: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/ivycreekfoundation/event/73025ivytalkhowandwhytogrowhedgerows/

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Saturday, August 2 | 7:30am

First Saturday Bird Walk

On the first Saturday of each month, the Piedmont Virginia Bird Club offers a bird walk, led by a club member, at Ivy Creek Natural Area and Historic River View Farm. Participants gather in the parking lot at 7:30am.

Birders of all levels are welcome. The club has binoculars which participants may borrow. This event is open to the public and no pre-registration is required.

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About Ivy Creek

Barn at Sunset

Photo: Alan Hostetler

Scenically shadowed by the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Ivy Creek Natural Area (ICNA) is a 219-acre preserve bordering the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir in Charlottesville, Virginia.

With seven miles of trails traversing a mix of upland woods, pine stands, fields, streams, and shoreline, ICNA is an ideal site to learn about the rich natural history characteristic of Central Virginia.

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