Garden seeks land to expand

If the N.C. Botanical Garden doesn’t raise about $200,000 in forty days, it won’t be able to buy land to expand a nature preserve as planned.

The 5.6-acre tract of land is adjacent to the Stillhouse Bottom Nature Preserve. The N.C. Botanical Garden has been interested in the land for about two years, said Johnny Randall, assistant director for the garden’s conservation programs.

The garden plans to add the piece of land to the 17-acre Stillhouse Bottom area, which was given to the garden by Duke Power and James Eder, a partner in the Morgan Creek Land Company.

But the botanical garden’s option to buy expires on Oct. 31, Randall said.

“It’s critical for the conservation of this site,” Randall said. The property lies in the center of the preserve and is important for the entire site’s protection.

Julia Ivey, the owner of the land, offered it for $500,00 in 2007.

Ivey agreed to lower the price by $100,000 if the Botanical Garden Foundation could raise the remaining $400,000.

The garden has hosted two fundraisers and received other donations to help with the purchase.

So far, the garden has received $172,000, with pledges of $34,000 from the town of Chapel Hill and $100,000 from the Orange County Lands Legacy Program. They have also received about $18,000 in private donations.

If the rest of the money is not raised by October, officials said they hope to extend the time they have to purchase the land, Randall said.

“This land is a beautiful, rich forest of many plant species,” said Peter White, director of the N.C. Botanical Garden.

He said the area is important to conserving biodiversity — it supports more than 100 plant species and provides a forest habitat for migrating birds.

The garden hopes to create a 65-acre preserve, combining their land purchases with land donations.

The garden’s staff helps with the preservation of approximately 800 acres of land including Battle Park, Forest Theatre, Mason Farm Biological Reserve and other areas along Morgan Creek.


Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.