A “memorandum of understanding” was signed on Wednesday, June 5, indicating a partnership between Guilford College and Piedmont Land Conservancy (PLC), to begin efforts in conserving the Guilford Woods.

The funding for conservation efforts will be through a capital campaign with a goal of $8.5 million, which will be launched by PLC’s Board of Directors.

After fundraising success, the process would then progress to PLC securing a conservation easement. The easement would be recorded in the Guilford County registry and would permanently protect the Guilford Woods, said PLC Executive Director Kevin Redding.

“Our goal is to protect the land for current and future generations,” said Redding. “It would not be subdivided and it would not be developed; people are going to have access to it, and educational opportunities can still take place on it.”

The natural beauty of the Guilford Woods is intertwined with centuries of landmark historical events connected to the property.

The woods of Guilford have taken on many roles. It’s a sacred land for Indigenous peoples, a place of conflict during the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, and a federally recognized site of the Underground Railroad. Redding said the history of the property is a driving factor in the efforts to conserve the land.

“That’s part of the draw for us,” Redding said. “The other part is that we like to protect properties that are close to other protected properties.”

Adjacent to Guilford’s campus, the Julian and Ethel Clay Price Park — 100 acres of land protected by PLC — stands alongside Guilford’s woods as some of the only property undeveloped in the rapidly developing Greensboro.

Redding said that by being able to conserve the Guilford Woods, PLC would have easements on roughly 250 acres of connected protected property — something that will not be viable if the campaign is unsuccessful.

PLC’s incoming board president Mary Magrinat said in the official press release that the opportunity for conservation would be a positive for both parties in the partnership, as well as the greater Greensboro community.

“The land will be permanently protected,” Magrinat said. “Guilford College will receive vital financial support for its programs, and the public will gain official access to pristine green space in a rapidly growing part of Greensboro.”

Redding said the conservation of the land would also protect local wildlife, as the Guilford woodlands are one of the very few fully mature hardwood forests in both Greensboro and Guilford County.

The ecological vitality and protection of the Guilford Woods is a conversation that dates back roughly two decades, said Redding. In recent years, more serious conversations have emerged, and efforts have reached full capacity since the establishment of the official partnership.

“Guilford College is proud to be part of this partnership to preserve Guilford Woods,” said Acting President Jean Bordewich in PLC’s press release. “We are committed to ensuring this beloved landscape remains protected and accessible for generations to come.”

The legacy of Guilford’s woods is one cherished by students, staff and faculty, alumni, and people far and wide who have visited its natural beauty.

To succeed and reach a conservation easement, the fundraising campaign will need Guilford’s spirit of community and togetherness.

“This is just the beginning of the effort to protect the woods,” said Redding. “We are going to do everything in our power to raise the funds to protect those woods, but it’s going to take a lot of people getting involved in this.”

For those interested in supporting the campaign or for more information, contact PLC officials through the PLC website.