Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

|| High Country Press Newswire

MAY 28, 2009 ISSUE

Local Businesses Support Land Trust Day June 6

On Saturday, June 6, businesses across North Carolina will show their support for land and water protection by donating a percentage of their sales, supporting membership drives or by making a donation to their local land trust. Land Trust Day coincides with National Trails Day, a day when outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds celebrate the natural heritage of North Carolina and nation’s trail system.

High Country Conservancy (HCC) is one local land trust that is partnering with local businesses on Saturday, June 6, to raise funds for protecting High Country’s open spaces.

“It’s a great day for us to build awareness of our land protection efforts in the community and for us to promote the businesses who support us—the businesses who understand their customers value conservation,” said Eric Hiegl, High Country Conservancy’s land protection director.

Many High Country businesses are showing their support for protecting the area’s land and water by donating to High Country Conservancy. In downtown Boone, Land Trust Day business partners include Our Daily Bread, Melanie’s, Magic Cycles, Green Mother Goods and Rock Dimensions. Mast General Store and Footsloggers are also Land Trust Day partners, supporting HCC as well as other area land trusts like Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust and National Committee for the New River.

By shopping or eating at these businesses on Land Trust Day, customers will support efforts to protect land in Avery, Ashe and Watauga counties.

“It makes sense for us to support the local land trusts—they’re the people protecting the mountains and streams, the very things people come here to experience,” explained Hanes Boren, owner of Footsloggers.

High Country Conservancy’s mission is to protect the natural resources of Appalachia by conserving land with significant ecological, cultural, recreational or scenic value in the North Carolina High Country. To date, HCC has protected more than 2,750 acres of land in Avery, Ashe and Watauga counties.