The purchase of 413 acres of rugged forestland along Surry County’s highest point, Fishers Peak, has been finalized by the Piedmont Land Conservancy (PLC), ensuring its preservation for future public use.

This acquisition, which had been announced in September, was completed during December by the non-profit Piedmont Land Conservancy.

The PLC is a grassroots land trust, headquartered in Greensboro, which is dedicated to permanently protecting important lands to conserve rivers, stream and natural and scenic areas in a nine-county region that includes Surry.

“Protecting Fishers Peak is one of PLC’s highest priorities,” said Kevin Redding, the organization’s executive director. “Protecting this area is a major step toward protecting the nature of the Piedmont and our quality of life.”

The 413-acre site involved in the recent transaction marks the second PLC conservation project at Fishers Peak. The Conservancy acquired a nearby 350-acre tract in the spring of 2007.

Fishers Peak is nestled in the northwest corner of Surry County where the Blue Ridge Parkway reaches the North Carolina/Virginia line. It contains the headwaters of 13 separate streams that drain into the Fisher River, a clear-flowing tributary of the Yadkin River.

The largest streams are believed to contain native brook trout. The PLC is partnering with the state Wildlife Resources Commission to confirm their presence. The steep slope and rock outcroppings at Fishers Peak contain rare grasses and unique wildlife habitat.

Redding said the recent acquisition project was made possible through contributions to the PLC’s Protecting the Nature of the Piedmont campaign.

“Without the generous donors to our campaign, PLC could not have achieved this great success,” he said.

In addition, the Conservancy received a short-term loan from the Conservation Trust for North Carolina, allowing it to complete the project. The North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund has approved a grant that will enable the Conservancy to pay off the loan balance in the spring.

Redding says the immediate plans for the Fishers Peak property call for using it for PLC-member outings, including planned hikes.

“The first hike will likely be an early spring wildflower hike,” he added. “If you have a chance, you should find time to join us. The views are breathtaking, the wildflowers are beautiful and you never know what else we’ll see.”

Ultimately, the Piedmont Land Conservancy plans to partner with a public entity to make the property permanently accessible to citizens.

“There’s no better way to gain an appreciation for the Piedmont than to stand there and look out at Pilot Mountain, Sauratown Mountain and downtown Winston-Salem. PLC’s goal is to protect that opportunity for future generations of Piedmont residents,” Redding said.

To date, the Piedmont Land Conservancy has protected nearly 17,000 acres in 145 projects across its nine-county region of Surry, Alamance, Caswell, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes and Yadkin.

More information about the organization, and how to support its efforts to protect farms, rivers, forests, wildlife habitats and urban greenways and parks, is available from the PLC Web site at www.piedmontland.org or by calling (336) 691-0088.