About Us

Leopold's Preserve is a 380-acre park located in Haymarket, Virginia. The Preserve features 7 miles of walking trails and 35 interpretive signs that highlight the natural and historic features of the property. The trails are free to access and open to the public every day from dawn until dusk. The Preserve sees 10,000 visits annually from across Northern Virginia. It is a popular location for hiking, running, bird watching, plein air painting, forest bathing, and other outdoor activities.

 

Leopold's Preserve is not a state or county park - it is privately owned and managed by the White House Farm Foundation (WHFF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation with a focus on conservation and education. WHFF handles all maintenance, improvement, and habitat restoration projects at Leopold's Preserve. In addition, they offer frequent educational and volunteer programs at the Preserve for the public to enjoy.

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The inspiration behind Leopold's Preserve was a man considered by many as the father of wildlife management and of the United States' wilderness system -- Aldo Leopold. Throughout his life he played many roles: wildlife manager, hunter, husband, father, naturalist, wilderness advocate, poet, scientist, philosopher, visionary and conservationist. His ideas about the relationship between people and nature continually inspire us.

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The origin of Leopold's Preserve was the sale and subsequent purchase of the South Market property - a 550-acre tract of land quietly nestled in the Rural Crescent but planned for industrial and commercial uses. The developer carved out just a slight portion of the land for a clustered residential community (the Villages of Piedmont), then protected the balance of the land for conservation and public enjoyment. The 380-acre balance, which is now Leopold's Preserve, is protected forever through a conservation easement held by the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT).

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Discover more about Leopold's Preserve by watching the video below!