Conserving Land

Conservation of land and the ecosystem that on it is one of the three tenets of Valley View Foundation's mission.  Our site includes ecosystem features that are representative of nearly every natural system in southwest Ohio - wetlands, prairie, steep wooded hillside, streamside forest and estuary pools, natural springs and the East Fork of the Little Miami River - all on a relatively compact site. 

These ecosystems support a diverse and ever-increasing population of wildlife.  Over 70 bird species have been documented on our site including rare Northern Harrier's and Henslow's Sparrows that nested on the property recently.  A beautiful Herron usually perches in trees and walks the banks of the East Fork as it passes through Valley View.  Pilliated woodpecker an many grassland songbirds also now call Valley View home.

As development progresses all around Valley View animals are seeking refuge on the property including countless deer (up to 30 at a time), fox and beavers.  As the wildflowers take over these fields that were in soybean production just a few years ago, the number and variety of butterflies is ever increasing.  Several butterfly lovers have told us we have one of the best sites for butterflies in the region. 

As the saying goes, "if you want to control it, you better own it."  That's exactly what Valley View has done.  We raised over $2 million in public and private funds to purchase the property.  In addition to holding title to the property, we also imposed very rigid legal deed restrictions that set forth how the property can and cannot be used in perpetuity.  These restrictions can be enforced not only by Valley View, but by the State of Ohio and others.  For more information about our efforts to protect the land, visit the Conservation Protections page.

Upcoming Nature Events

• Back to the Bottoms Series
  Guided Walking Tours
  Join one of our volunteers for a guided walking tour of Valley View.  Tours are held the first Saturday of each month beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Meet at the new Valley View kiosk just behind Pattison Elementary School off South Milford Road (if you drive straight back the Pattison driveway past the school the green kiosk is straight ahead).  The tour lasts 1 to 2 hours.  Please send us an e-mail in advance if you plan to attend.

• Conversation with a Conservationist Native Prairie Restoration
  Join Andy Dickerson, our Vice President and Co-Chair of the Land Management Committee for an informative session on conservation strategies being employed by Valley View and The Nature Conservancy throughout Ohio.  Find out why that "field full of weeds" really is something much more.  This event will be held on August 11, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at the home of Bob and Gail Laudeman, 5388 South Milford Road, Milford, Ohio 45150.  Please send us an e-mail in advance if you plan to attend.

• Down on the Farm
  History of Farming at Valley View
  Join Chris Habel, Bob Laudeman and others from Milford as they describe how important farming has been to the Milford area and how the Valley View property was operated as a family farm for generations.  This event will include a tour of the historic barns that Bob's ancestors built in the 19th Century and that Bob worked in as a boy.  This event will be held on September 8, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at the home of Bob and Gail Laudeman, 5388 South Milford Road, Milford, Ohio 45150.  Please send us an e-mail in advance if you plan to attend. 

"When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect."

                  Aldo Leopold 

 

Our Wetlands

Valley View has several upland isolated wetlands and streamside wetlands along the East Fork.  Visit the Wetlands Page to learn more about this important habitat. 

Our Prairie

Just a few years ago much of the property was planted in crops as it had been for more than 150 years.  But since 2003, we have not planted the fields but have sowed several species of native prairie grasses and wildflowers.  Visit the Prairie Page to see how we're restoring the prairie at Valley View.

Our Woodlands

On the west side of the Valley View property is a steep wooded hillside that is commonly found in Southwest Ohio.  On the east side of the property we have over 35 acres of heavily wooded streamside forest along the East Fork.  Visit the Woodlands Page to see these spectacular areas, the wildlife that lives in them and "The Tree" that you must see to believe.  

The East Fork of the Little Miami River

Valley View borders more than a mile of the East Fork of the Little Miami River.  This stretch of the River is classified as an Exceptional Warmwater Habitat by Ohio EPA and state endangered mussels have been found in these waters on our property.  Visit the East Fork Page to learn more about this important waterway and what Valley View and many partners are doing to maintain and improve it.

And Then What Might Have Been . . .

Beginning in the 1980s plans were in place to develop the Valley View site, first into a high-density residential subdivision and later into a commercial and industrial park.  In fact, a residential developer owned much of the Valley View property for over a decade.  If you would like to see what the Valley View site could have looked like today click here.  To learn more about how we were able to purchase and protect this property, visit the Story of Valley View.page.