Falkland State Conservation Area
The 3,470-acre Falkland State Conservation Area is located in Halifax County and is part of the site formerly known as Falkland Farms.
The property connects to the western border of Staunton River State Park and is just south of Difficult Creek Natural Area Preserve. It is incredibly significant for biodiversity conservation in the Virginia Piedmont and beyond.
Thousands of acres of hardpan soil, underlain by Virgilina green stone and Aaron slate, make it ripe for the restoration of native savanna, rare and threatened plants and significant natural communities. The property also contains vast wetlands and 40 miles of streams.
While the area is not yet open to the public, Virginia State Parks is actively working on the next steps for its future. This includes finalizing plans for a system of multi-use trails that will accommodate a variety of recreational opportunities such as hiking, biking and horseback riding.
The goal is to thoughtfully design routes that balance visitor enjoyment with the protection of the property’s natural and cultural resources. These trails will serve as a foundation for the area’s eventual opening, ensuring that when the time comes, the public will have safe, sustainable and meaningful ways to explore Falkland’s unique landscapes.
In addition to the multi-use trails, the Falkland State Conservation Area will continue to offer managed hunts to help control the area’s deer population.
The Falkland State Conservation Area is staffed jointly by Virginia State Parks and Natural Heritage. The divisions plan to oversee the land with forest management, invasive species control and prescribed fire.
The 3,470-acre property is part of a larger 7,400-acre donation that took place in 2022, which was the single largest private land donation for permanent conservation to the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia history.
The remaining 3,899 acres are known as the Southside Savanna Natural Area Preserve. It was dedicated on Dec. 21, 2023.
Learn more about the Southside Savanna Natural Area Preserve.
