FOLAR at 25: Looking back, forging ahead By Dr. Jackson Bartlett, Executive Director This year is FOLAR’s 25th anniversary. As I look back on all we’ve been a part of and all that we’ve been able to achieve, I am humbled. That’s because FOLAR isn’t just an organization. It represents the cumulative effort of countless…
By Elise Neuscheler FOLAR was recently invited to speak during an educational walk for local co-ed Scout Group 2877. As FOLAR’s Environmental Stewardship Coordinator, I guided the Scouts along the Appomattox River Trail in Colonial Heights, using the riverbank as a living classroom. The group totaled 25+ scouts and scout leaders, with children from…
By Elise Neuscheler Lately, visitors to the University Boulevard trailhead of the Appomattox River Trail have found new locations to relax and enjoy their local nature, thanks to extensive invasive plant removal by countless FOLAR volunteers over the years. One of FOLAR’s star volunteers and a local history fanatic, Barry Lewis, has been steadily…
By Makayla Hamlin October 10 is National Walk to a Park Day and what better place to do that than on the Appomattox River Trail. However, most people in America do not have the privilege to walk to a park. For those who do not have a designated walking trail near them or cannot/…
By Makayla Hamlin Over 700 acres of the lower Appomattox River corridor are protected from future development, including public parks and private conservation easements. It is also an inherently protected habitat for the many animals that call it home. September 4 is National Wildlife Day, and it’s time to shine a light on the…
By Jackson Bartlett, Executive Director I hope that you’re enjoying these last days of summer. I’m honored to be writing you as the new Executive Director of Friends of the Lower Appomattox River. There’s no warmer welcome than that which I’ve received from the Board of Trustees, and from the staff, our volunteers, and our…
Get your paddles ready, because the Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR)’s 17th annual Paddle Battle is coming to the river on Saturday, September 27! Every year during our annual Paddle Battle, friends and river folks paddle downstream from Petersburg to Hopewell on the scenic Appomattox River. During this year’s event on September 27,…
FOLAR is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Jackson Christopher Bartlett as its new Executive Director, effective August 1, 2025. Along with his many years of experience in leadership, fundraising, communications, and board relations, Dr. Bartlett brings a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, education, and community engagement. “We are thrilled to welcome Jackson as…
By Elise Neuscheler It was expected for several years – Spotted Lanternflies, Lycorma delicatula, native to East Asia, have been making their way down the east coast, and have hit the tri-cities area. These insects have a close relationship with the invasive “Tree of Heaven,” Ailanthus altissima, which is also a native of East Asia…
By Makayla Hamlin If you’ve opted for the outdoor option at restaurants, you may have an upper hand over all of us who choose to eat inside. July is National Picnic Month, so let’s talk about one great advantage of eating outside: the Sun. When your skin is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet…
Calling all river neighbors! You’re needed as we work together to preserve the Appomattox River! We’re gathering Riverfront Champions together to unite as a community group where we can share river care resources, learn from each other about preserving views while reducing erosion and strengthening shorelines, and ultimately, work together to protect our shared resource.…
By Makayla Hamlin With 16 riverside parks, 8 boat access points, and 3 marinas, there are many areas to get close to the water on the trail. As June 2-8th is National Fishing and Boating Week, we thought it would be nice to have a collected list of tips for boating and fishing on the…
Happy #NationalRiversMonth! Recently, we geared up and headed for the river as our partners from the Capital Region Land Conservancy, Chesterfield County Parks & Recreation, and the Crater District Planning Commission met to discuss current stream conditions. This collective of partners work on a variety of projects together, including annual surveys of the land and…
A big part of our fundraising initiative for this year’s Community Service Awards involved exclusive Appomattox River Trail Experiences — an array of independently-led or guided Experiences that encourage your sense of adventure and appreciation for the river! Thanks to the support of our local partners, these unique experiences combine outdoor adventure, river exploration, and…
By Makayla Hamlin May is National Bike Month, so we can’t help but encourage you all to give bike riding a try on the ART! The month was established to encourage biking as transportation, sport, and fun. The League of American Bicyclists, the sponsor for the month, believes that biking should be a typical part…
A drum roll for… YOUR 2025 HONOREES! These are some of the wonderful people who have contributed so much to FOLAR’s progress in the past year, and it’s important that you help us celebrate them at our 2025 Community Service Awards and Fundraiser at the NEW Appomattox River Center on May 1! _ Chairman’s Service…
By Makayla Hamlin Surrounded by lush green trees and brush illuminated with bright beams of sun, you hear birds and insects chirping, rushes of water beside you. It’s a beautiful scene, and the more you look around, the more it calms you. Did you know that what you’re doing has a name? It’s called “forest…
FOLAR is hosting our 2025 Community Service Awards and Fundraiser on Thursday, May 1 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and you best be there! Hosted at the Appomattox River Center in Petersburg, you’ll enjoy hors d’oeuvres served alongside a cash bar and many exciting opportunities to secure a unique Appomattox River Trail Experience and special…
Friends, We’re reaching out with an urgent request—one that directly impacts our Appomattox River community. Recent federal funding pauses have created an urgent crisis for nonprofits like ours, putting vital programs at risk. FOLAR now faces a critical financial shortfall, threatening our work to protect the Appomattox River – our drinking water source –…
By Makayla Hamlin The Appomattox River is home to many of Virginia’s native species of plants, birds, fish, amphibians, and mammals. Yet, they are put at risk almost every day due to the spread of invasive species. National Invasive Species Awareness Week, held in the last week of February, was created to raise awareness on…
State of the Trail 2025 – an annual program dedicated to discussing progress towards building the Appomattox River Trail – will take place on Thursday, February 27 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.! State of the Trail is a virtual program for folks to gather and learn about what’s in store for the Appomattox River Trail.…
FOLAR is a proud member of the Our Virginia Outdoors coalition, which is working with legislators in the General Assembly to pass Virginia’s Great Outdoors Act (VGOA) that would increase funding to protect Virginia’s lands and water and invest in more parks, trails, and public lands. VGOA would help: Protect vulnerable natural lands and waters,…
– EVENT CANCELED DUE TO DANGEROUSLY COLD TEMPERATURES – If you’re looking for a way to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy, join FOLAR for our MLK Day of Service! We are eager to join forces with the local community to enhance the riverfront and increase access to the river in the…
By Makayla Hamlin Whether it’s the sorrowful coo of the mourning dove after dawn or the shrill whistles of the Nothern Cardinal, you’re likely to hear birdsong on the trail. Did you know that it may provide more to you than just beautiful sound? Birds sing for all sorts of reasons. These complex vocalizations can…
As 2024 comes to a close, we’re looking forward to 2025! This year was truly jam-packed for us. From Stewardship Saturdays to Paddle Battle, FOLAR continued to unite people around the Appomattox River. This shared resource and scenic feature is important for us to steward so that future generations can continue to enjoy all that…
We need YOU to give hope for the Appomattox River! In 2024, we witnessed some of the most catastrophic natural disasters around the world. In the face of these challenges, it’s easy to feel that making an impact as an individual is impossible. That’s precisely why coming together — as community members, friends, colleagues, and…
We’re merry with merchandise, so why not give yourself or a loved one the gift of environmental stewardship?! We’ve got a selection of goods from hats to mugs that you can share and wear to support FOLAR and our work on the Appomattox River. Additionally, you can feel great wearing FOLAR swag because it benefits…
This season is about gratitude, community, and care. With each year that FOLAR is able to contribute to our regional community and coordinate great programs, we are thankful for the support and people that help us offer such experiences. Overall, we’ve enjoyed being a connector and community builder more than anything else in the past…
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the environmental enthusiast in your life, look no further! Copies of “Writing the Land: Virginia” – a poetry anthology that features land trusts and environmental organizations alongside their partnering poets from across the Commonwealth of Virginia – are available for purchase and can be shipped directly to…
2024 has been a very successful year for us when it came to collaborating with our volunteers. We are interacting with more and more volunteers each year, so we recently upgraded our volunteer system to be more user-friendly and streamlined as we embrace more helpers. We will be rolling out this software over the next…
FOLAR Board Chair, Sam Hayes, and Wendy Austin at the 16TH annual Paddle Battle on the Appomattox River. Photo by Sidd Kumar. After a decade of service with the Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR), Wendy Austin will step down as Executive Director in early 2025. When Wendy was hired in 2015; she was…
The community has spoken! Our “Treasured Views” Workshops gathered people from all around the region to identify and document their favorite views along the Appomattox River. Now, we’ve got a round-up of some of our top “Treasured Views!” Campbell’s Bridge, Petersburg – Just on the outskirts of VSU, this overlook offers passers-by scenes of people…
You are invited to quiet your mind and enjoy stories of nature during this special poetry reading night. Poets Gwyn R.C. Moses and Hollee Freeman will explore and evoke the Appomattox River’s beauty through spoken word. In partnership with Resist Booksellers, the Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR) will showcase a selection of the…
What a day! What a paddle! Just like that, Paddle Battle 2024 is in the books. Over 150 attendees, paddlers, and volunteers from across the region gathered to help us celebrate the Appomattox River and all that it offers us. From the Guided Paddle to the Race, folks enjoyed their time on the water –…
Look at us, we’re on TV! FOLAR was excited to be featured on PBS’ Virginia Home Grown on Tuesday, September 24! Our Environmental Stewardship Coordinator, Elise, was interviewed about managing invasive plants along the Appomattox River, and during the episode premiere, she’ll be present to ‘dig’ more into how you can use these methods in…
Paddle Battle 2024 is Saturday, September 21! This annual event brings folks together from all across the region as we celebrate the Appomattox River and all its beauty. There’s something for every paddler – from beginner to advanced – whether you want to test your skills in the 10-mile Race, float along the shore in…
Summer is coming to a close, and with that, we want to thank our Summer Intern, Makayla, for being such a huge part of this season with us! Makayla helped us with various projects over the past few months, from creating epic blog posts on our website, to documenting her experience through photographs while she…
We’re excited to announce the 16th annual PADDLE BATTLE! Join us on Saturday, September 21 for this fun paddle downstream from Petersburg to Hopewell on the scenic Appomattox River. This annual event brings folks together from all across the region as we celebrate the river and all it has to offer by winding through beautiful…
One of the most special parts about being human is having the awareness and ability to appreciate beauty, especially in nature. FOLAR is working with Scenic Virginia on a project to capture the best, most beautiful scenic views along the Appomattox River from the dam at Lake Chesdin to where the Appomattox River meets the James River…
Nature and art collide in Writing the Land: Virginia, a poetry anthology that details the vast and exquisite beauty of Virginia through the collaboration of numerous environmental organizations and poets from around the Commonwealth. To honor these natural and historic areas and the poetry that highlights them, we invite you to join us on August…
By Makayla Hamlin, FOLAR Summer Intern “Leaves of three, leave it be” rings true now more than ever as article after article is published suggesting that poison ivy thrives under the effects of climate change. It has the potential to grow bigger, stronger, and more potent. Scary, right? Before delving into why, let’s go…
We’re gearing up for a great summer ahead and there’s no better way for you to be a part of it than by becoming a FOLAR Member! With your donation of $35 or more, you can support the enhancement of the Appomattox River, the development of the Appomattox River Trail, and feel empowered knowing that…
Meet Makayla, the newest member of our FOLAR team and our Summer Intern! Makayla Hamlin (she/her(s)) is a native of Prince George, VA and graduated from Prince George High School. She is now a rising sophomore at the University of Richmond who plans to major in English, and with hopes to be novelist. She…
We would like to formally congratulate Gifford Scott and Alexis Washington for being the recipients of the 2024 Friends of the Lower Appomattox River Environmental Stewardship Scholarships! Established in 2016 by long-time FOLAR supporters, Victor and Reiko Liu, the FOLAR Environmental Stewardship Scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving student from the Tri-Cities region of…
Photo of the Appomattox River West of the City of Petersburg. Primary conservation values protected: 9.76 acres of forested land, including a forested buffer on 0.38 miles of riverfront to protect water quality and habitat. Identified scenic resources to be protected: State Designated Scenic River. Photo by John Rooney. PETERSBURG, VA – FOLAR announces that…
FOLAR is hosting our 2024 Community Service Awards, Ribbon Cutting, and Fundraising Event on May 31 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and we want YOU to be there! This evening awards celebration will honor the impact of individuals and organizations in our community through their exemplary service and philanthropy in support of conserving, protecting, and…
We’re gathering Riverfront Champions together to unite as a community group where we can share river care resources, learn from each other about preserving views while reducing erosion and strengthening shorelines, and ultimately, work together to protect our shared resource. We hope to create a forum for communication between our fellow river stakeholders so that…
Our mission at Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR) is to work in partnership with the community to conserve, protect, and promote the Appomattox River for all to enjoy. Recently, we took a big step forward with a community trail cleanup event at three locations: Roslyn Landing in Colonial Heights, Ferndale in Dinwiddie, and…
Join us as we sow seeds of restoration at the University Blvd Trailhead. Using grant funding secured through the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program and your dedication, we’ll be expanding our existing native plant gardens on March 23. This is a great opportunity to learn and contribute to your local green space! We’ll be adding…
We’ve got BIG news… WE’RE MOVING! Our new space is located on 235 N Market Street in Old Towne Petersburg, just steps from the Appomattox River Trail. It sits on Brickhouse Run, a tributary to the Appomattox, and is in walking distance to the library, art galleries, dining, shopping, and historical attractions. With our new…
State of the Trail 2024 was a success! We can’t thank you enough for your participation, support, and great questions. This annual program helps us connect with our community as we share previous year accomplishments and progress toward achieving our mission of working with the community to conserve, protect, and promote the Appomattox River for…
Mark your calendars! We’re excited to announce our lineup of events in 2024, with even more coming soon. Are you interested in weekday volunteer opportunities? Contact Elise ENeuscheler@folar-va.org.
FOLAR has great gifts for the nature lovers on your shopping list this year! Check out our updated online shop. You can pair a wall print (designed and printed locally) with a dry bag, or a baby onesie with a matching shirt for mom or dad. FOLAR offers local pick-up options and shipping. Shop local…
Help us use the power of nature to provide a healthier place to live, opportunities to expand knowledge, and to create the Appomattox River Trail Blueway-Greenway for ALL to enjoy. Imagine growing up without experiencing nature and how that would impact your wellbeing and quality of life. “These students had never been to the river even…
October 4th is World Animal Day! So many amazing animals call Virginia home. Highlighted here is a seasonal visitor, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (featured photograph above by Larry Tipton @larryhokie on Instagram), which is only found in the Americas. Hummingbirds will overwinter in central America, and move up the eastern half of the USA and into…
YOU CAN STILL SHOP FOR PADDLE BATTLE MERCHANDISE – CLICK HERE TO SHOP – Your purchase supports FOLAR’s river stewardship and Conservation programs on the lower Appomattox River. Thank you for supporting FOLAR for the 15th Annual Paddle Battle In support of our ongoing work to conserve, protect and promote the Appomattox River for all…
CALLING ALL STURGEON LOVERS! We are excited to announce the launch of a new story map celebrating the amazing Atlantic sturgeon as envisioned by three local artists. The story map highlights sturgeon sculptures along the Appomattox River, commissioned by CultureWorks to create public art for the community and raise awareness of FOLAR’s mission to conserve,…
The Board of Directors and staff of the FOLAR announces it has successfully acquired nearly 8 riverfront acres along the state designated scenic Appomattox River in Petersburg. This acquisition secures a critical gap in the developing 25-mile Appomattox River greenway-blueway trail & park system that spans six jurisdictions, connecting a rich diversity of neighborhoods, areas…
Welcoming paddlers of ALL levels to the 15th PADDLE-or-BATTLE on the scenic Appomattox River! This section of river is flatwater and tidal, and this year we’re paddling DOWNSTREAM winding through beautiful marshy areas with lots of wildlife. Paddlers have a choice of a 10-Mile Leisure Paddle, 2-Mile Shorty Paddle, or a 10-Mile Race (the battle!).…
This week GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN VISITED the Appomattox River Trail University Blvd Trailhead in Petersburg to learn more about FOLAR’s work to help our regional communities complete the 25-mile Appomattox River Trail & Park system. The Governor was in town as part of his Partnership for Petersburg initiative with Matt Wells, Director-VA DCR. Petersburg’s leadership invited…
Pictued Above, L-R, 2023 FOLAR Community Service Award Recipients: Capital Regional Land Conservancy, Parker Agelasto; Jessica Miller and Hayden Miller; Prince George County, Yoti Jabri and Keith Rotzoll; Crater PDC, Ron Svejkovsky; and Owen Printing Company, Wert Smith. . 2023 FOLAR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS IT WAS AN AMAZING CELEBRATION on June 1st thanks to…
The FOLAR Board of Directors is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS. These awards honor the impact of individuals and organizations who have made a difference for our community through exemplary service and philanthropy in support of conserving and protecting the Appomattox River for all to enjoy. CHAIRMAN’S…
Governor Glenn Youngkin recognized the winners of the 2022 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards at the recent Environment Virginia Symposium. The Appomattox River Trail – University Boulevard Overlook & Trailhead was recognized as a silver medal winner, the program’s second highest honor, along with two other projects from across the state. Reginald Tabor, Director of Planning…
What started as an idea jotted on the back of paper napkin has resulted in a $35,000 proactive grant from John Randolph Foundation (Ursula M. Gibbs Memorial Endowment) to Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR) to support its current challenge grant effort for the Appomattox River Trail’s vital western entrance spanning Dinwiddie and Chesterfield…
By: Wayne Covil, Jan 21, 2022 PETERSBURG, Va. — The dream of a 25-mile trail running along the Appomattox River from Hopewell to Dinwiddie County is getting closer to reality. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s a very therapeutic walk out here. A lot of people come out here because it’s just a nice trail and…
By Jack Jacobs, January 20, 2022 One of the next legs of another regional walking and biking trail is being further mapped out. The planning process is underway for the western edge of the Appomattox River Trail, a partially completed 25-mile paved path that will run east-west from Hopewell to Lake Chesdin. Friends of the…
Paddle Battle Has Record Breaking Year We could not be prouder of the 13th Annual PADDLE-or-BATTLE held on Saturday, September 25, 2021. We had a record turnout and record-breaking times. This event is FOLAR’s signature recreation program, and it has so many community benefits. We’re promoting physical activity, environmental stewardship and conservation, and tourism in…
By Zach Armstrong, The Prince George Journal — The Friends of the Lower Appomattox River will consider climate change impacts into the development of the Appomattox River Trail blueway and greenway relating to the ecosystem, park and trail infrastructure as well as the park and trail users. “The climate change adaptation framework isn’t going…
By Leslie Middleton, The Chesapeake Bay Journal — The Appomattox River in Virginia has long been a river I’ve wanted to explore. Its name conjured up associations with the Civil War, but otherwise I knew little about it. Lucky for me, a water trail helped me to tackle the adventure. The Appomattox is the…
FOLAR works in partnership with the community to conserve, protect, and promote the Appomattox River for all to enjoy.
FOLAR’s vision is for residents and visitors to have access to the beauty and wonder of the lower Appomattox River, through the completion of the 25-mile long Appomattox River Trail and Park System and engaging, high-impact programs that allow everyone to become a steward of river conservation and local ecology.
At FOLAR, we know that a healthy river and healthy communities go hand in hand. We’re proud to partner with all six localities from the Brasfield Dam to the river’s confluence with the James in Hopewell, along with area foundations, businesses, and conservation groups across the state to get people out and enjoying all that the Appomattox has to offer.
