FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                         Contact:  

                                                         Kathy Melvin, Business Integrated     

                                                         Communications   502.609.9813

 River Fields Offers Autumn Color Walks At Wolf Pen Branch Mill Farm  

Louisville, KY (October 1, 2008)—River Fields Inc. has scheduled two autumn color walks in October. Guided by an area biologist with expertise in the exceptional collection of plant life on the property, the walks are scheduled October 8 and October 16 at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 pm. 

Nestled on 412 acres of undeveloped land along Wolf Pen Branch Creek, the farm features a federally endangered plant species and an historic, water-powered mill.  The farm and the mill are permanently preserved through a conservation easement co-held by River Fields, Inc. and the Kentucky Heritage Council.

Sallie Bingham, noted writer and founder of the Kentucky Foundation for Women owns the property. She donated the conservation easement in 1999 so the property would remain undeveloped and protected for future generations.

Conservation easements are a means of protecting a specific property from undesirable land use and development. The donor transfers development rights of the land, generally to a qualified land trust such as River Fields, which takes responsibility for enforcing the development restrictions in perpetuity. The donor retains ownership of the property that can then be dedicated as a wildlife habitat, watershed protection, recreation or personal residence.

River Fields has preserved forever more than 2,200 acres of land. The organization is one of the oldest and most “green” organizations in Metro Louisville. February 2009 is the group’s 50th anniversary.

Non-members of River Fields may attend the Autumn Walks by donating $25 to River Fields, which includes a one-year membership in the organization. Reservations for the walk can be made by calling the River Fields office at 583-3060 or by email, melodyraidy@riverfields.org. Reservations are required and space is limited. 

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River Fields is the largest and oldest river conservancy along the 981- mile Ohio River.  For nearly 50 years, River Fields has utilized its resources to effectively protect, preserve and enhance the natural and cultural resources of the land and water around the Ohio River in our region.  Through its programs of land conservation, advocacy, and education, River Fields strives to create harmony between nature, history and the people who live here.  River Fields owns land or holds conservation easements on 34 properties, totaling more than 2,200 acres, most of which is preserved forever. River Fields is one of the nation's few land trusts tackling regional advocacy work and land conservation.