Kent County Farm Gets Permanent Conservation Protection
Kent County, MD - A 116-acre farm in Kent County will stay wild and natural forever. Tavern Creek Farm has been placed under a permanent conservation easement through a partnership between Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and the Durocher family.
The easement was made possible through funding from the USDA and the State of Maryland's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Permanent Easement Program, also known as CREP. It protects the land from future development so it can stay as habitat for local wildlife.
The farm was originally bought as a hunting property. About 20 years ago, Louise and John Durocher stopped farming crops there and began turning the fields into native grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and trees. Over the years they planted river birch, tulip poplars, sycamores, white oaks, loblolly pines, black walnuts, and pawpaws.
"The first year we planted wildflowers, the coreopsis covered about five acres in gold," reflected Louise. "I have had a long association with the Chesapeake... I always hoped to conserve the property to help protect the Bay."
More than 31 acres of the farm, including nearly all of its shoreline, have been enrolled in Farm Bill conservation practices for over a decade. Open meadows of warm and cool season grasses connect to forest through long hedgerows, giving shelter to beavers, otters, opossums, muskrat, and many types of birds.
"We could not be prouder to protect and steward Tavern Creek Farm's diverse natural habitats," commented ESLC President and CEO Steve Kline. "The property's unique ecosystems provide infinite conservation benefits to the entire community, from woodlands that protect the water quality of Tavern Creek and the Chesapeake Bay, to 26 acres of wetlands that offer stormwater retention and nutrient cycling."
The farm has 24 acres of woodland running along its entire length. Along with the tree plantings and more than 18 acres of conservation cover, the woodland helps protect water quality in Tavern Creek and the farm's ponds. The easement also covers 6,560 linear feet of frontage along Swan Creek Road and 9,175 linear feet of frontage along Tavern Creek.
The farm is now cared for by Sarah Starman, the granddaughter of Louise and John Durocher. "Seeing the farm become more beautiful and biodiverse because of my grandparents' work and our work is very rewarding," commented Starman. "Knowing that our farm will always be protected by ESLC provides security and stability. I feel even more motivated now to take good care of the farm and lay a strong foundation of conservation that future generations can build on."
Starman said she hopes future generations can enjoy the land the same way her family does now. "I hope that in a hundred years whoever is living here will enjoy it in some of the same ways we do: kayaking and fishing in Tavern Creek; watching the ospreys on the osprey stand; picking blueberries in the spring and figs in the summer; having barbecues in front of the house; and taking care of the woodlands, wetlands, and grasslands so that they're good wildlife habitat. It's a very peaceful place, and I hope it stays that way."
Photo Credit: ESLC
