Middletown, NY (OCLT): The Orange County Land Trust has kicked off its 2009 Annual Year End Appeal with a mailing to its many supporters to help the organization in 2010 continue to protect critical natural areas and working farmland throughout the county.
Each year at this time, the Land Trust seeks support from the community to help fulfill its mission of preserving the fields, forests, wetlands, ridgelines, river corridors, and working farmland. This year, Hudson Baylor Corporation of Newburgh, offering recycling solutions for industry and municipalities, is the Land Trust’s corporate kick-off sponsor.
According to Executive Director Jim Delaune, the Orange County Land Trust has helped preserve nearly 4,000 acres of land since the Land Trust’s inception in 1993. Protected lands include valuable working farmland, ecologically rich wetlands and old growth woodlands, scenic ridgelines and critical wildlife habitats.
For 2010, a major initiative of the Land Trust will be working in partnership with numerous city and county agencies to create urban community gardens in Middletown and Port Jervis, and make improvements to “The People’s Garden” an existing community garden in Newburgh. The Land Trust will also work with Independent Living, Inc. to raise funds for the development of a universal access rail-trail for the handicapped at the Land Trust’s 204-acre Hamptonburgh Preserve, as well as continue to work with landowners, municipalities and the county on land preservation and open space planning.
To make a donation to the Orange County Land Trust and support land protection and conservation in our communities, please call the office at (845) 343-0840 or make a secure online donation at www.oclt.org.
