Gloucester residents Charles and Beverly Rich have created a conservation easement for the 228-acre property they own in the northern part of the county, according to Land Trust of Virginia. This is the first LTV easement recorded in Gloucester County.

“They gave me the nuts and bolts of what needed to be done and my wife and I liked what we heard,” said Charles Rich.

“The money down here comes from solar farms and subdivisions,” he added. “I wanted this tract of land to stay just the way it is because I have a real attachment to this land.”

The land is visible from Route 17 and the easement will now protect the scenic view and historic dwelling known as Mount Prodigal. The Richs moved to the property in 1974 and restored the home and the property.

Charles ran a farming operation on the property that used conservation practices including erosion control, no-till farming, growing cover crops and maintained a Nutrient Management Plan. These practices earned him a Clean Water...