DUVAL - Bogey Creek Landing
On March 3, 2006, the North Florida Land Trust acquired Bogey Creek Landing, its second property within the Timucuan Trail State and National Parks area. The 4.2 acre parcel of uplands is bordered by estuarine salt marsh, Bogey Branch and other upland properties. Bogey Creek Landing consists almost entirely of maritime hammock, a natural community of live oak, pignut hickory and southern magnolia. Download property profile. Movie tour of property.

The North Florida Land Trust has helped to protect almost 1,000 acres in North Florida. We currently hold three Conservation Easements and are actively fundraising for acquisitions in Duval, St. Johns and Nassau counties.

Be sure and check out the current projects of the North Florida Land Trust.

Regional Map of Conserved Lands - 7 Counties

DUVAL - River Branch Preserve (350+/- acres)
Traveling east across the Intracoastal Waterway on Atlantic Boulevard, looking to the north, over 350 acres were purchased April 30, 2009 by the City of Atlantic Beach. North Florida Land Trust holds the Conservation Easement on this pristine wetland that protects it from development and holds the municipality accountable for its care. City of Atlantic Beach has plans to make the wetlands and adjoining upland parcels accessible by the public. A boat ramp is planned to allower easier access to the area. This property was conserved after almost ten years of legal and monetary issues that delayed its acquisition into public ownership. Video of dedication ceremony.

The property was purchased from the Buckman-Pritchard Trust. The City of Atlantic Beach, the Public Trust Environmental Legal Institute of Florida and Preservation Project North Florida Inc. worked on this agreement to purchase approximately 350 acres of marsh and upland property in Atlantic Beach. The property is located between Atlantic Blvd. and Dutton Island. Negotiations to purchase the land were ongoing since 2001. A complex set of legal issues made it difficult to place a value on the property. This is the largest addition to the park system in Atlantic Beach, which took Atlantic Beach parks from 65 acres of active and passive parks in its city limits, (not including the beach) to over 400 acres. The park will provide passive recreational opportunities including canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. The agreement calls for execution of an environmental conservation easement that limits future uses of the property which is held by North Florida Land Trust.

Much gratitude is due to many of the people who worked on this project: Mayors of Atlantic Beach, River Branch Foundation founder Jennifer Johnson Duke, Warren Anderson of Public Trust Environmental Legal Institute, Mark Middlebrook of The Middlebrook Company, and the hundreds of volunteers from the Marsh Preservation Society who put on MarshFest each year in hopes of acquiring this local treasure.

ST. JOHNS - Austin Property (1 acre parcel)
One acre parcel that abuts and provides an extra buffer to an existing preserve in Ponte Vedra Beach. The Austin property was donated in June 2007 by Steve Austin who had owned the property for approximately four years. NFLT Board member Ron Evens and his wife Sally stepped forward and generously donated the funds to cover the closing costs of acquiring the land. As with all NFLT-protected properties, the Austin land underwent a thorough environmental ste assessment to evaluate its geology, topography and historical uses.

ST. JOHNS - Gloria Goelz Preserve in Ponte Vedra
With a generous donation from the Goelz family to honor Gloria Goelz on her 80th birthday, the NFLT purchased and protected the last remaining acres of undeveloped marshland in Ponte Vedra Beach. As part of a successful capital campaign, the NFLT led guided kayak tours of these headwaters for the Guana River system. The Land Trust will offer additional tours in the future. Download property profile. Movie tour of property.

DUVAL - Historic Property in Jacksonville
In August, 2003, the NFLT successfully completed its first Conservation Easement. This 3-acre property in Jacksonville has grand, old live oak trees, a beautiful view of the St. Johns River, and an historic house dating back to 1873. The Conservation Easement will permanently protect this unique property in accordance with the wishes of the Cummer family, owners since the 1960s. The scenic, educational and historic qualities will be preserved from future development. The adjoining property, known as the Harriet Beecher Stowe tract, is where Calvin and Harriet Beecher Stowe (author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin) lived during the Civil War era. The Cummer house, formerly known as the King Residence (built for William King in 1873), is now regarded as “one of Mandarin’s finest architectural gems.” Download property profile. Check out video of property taken Summer, 2009.

DUVAL - Pescatello Island in the Jacksonville Timucuan Preserve
The Land Trust purchased a pristine 30.5-acre island in the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in northern Duval County. It will be permanently protected in its natural condition. This purchase was made possible using conservation settlement funds received by the North Florida Land Trust, and partnering with The Nature Conservancy and the National Park Service which oversees the Preserve. Download property profile. Check out photos and video of trailblazing done, July 2009 by volunteers.

CLAY - Moccasin Slough
The NFLT helped protect a 260-acre site known as Moccasin Slough in Clay County. Moccasin Slough is located along the St. Johns River on rapidly-developing Fleming Island, on the east side of US 17 between Westover Road and Raggedy Point road. We partnered with The Trust for Public Land, with funding provided by the Florida Communities Trust state grant program, the federal Land & Water Conservation Trust, Clay County, and the previous land owners. With the help of the North Florida Land Trust, Clay County will create a passive community park and use it to provide environmental education. Download property profile.

Check out the latest photos showing renovation underway. Tour of Moccasin Slough, Clay County, September 2009

CLAY - North Fork Ranch
This 250-acre ranch on the Black Creek in Clay County is surrounded by heavy development pressure. The North Florida Land Trust worked with its owner, the County, and the Girl Scouts to find a way to protect its wonderful conservation values and meet the financial needs of the owner. The Girl Scouts purchased the property and will use it for scouting activities, including equestrian, boating, and camping. Download property profile. Movie about acquisition featuring donor.

If we learn, finally,
that what we need to "manage" is not the land so much as ourselves in the land, we will have turned the history of American land-use on its head.

- Gaylord Nelson
Founder of Earth Day