Varina LandLab earns designation as Chesapeake Gateways site

Capital Region Land Conservancy’s Varina LandLab Conservation Area has received designation as a Chesapeake Gateways Site within the Chesapeake Gateways Network.

The network of important places provides enhanced visitor experiences for the public to explore, learn about, and help conserve the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. It was created by the National Park Service.

The Varina LandLab is a 353-acre property in Eastern Henrico County that provides public access to the outdoors and environmental education opportunities. Owned and managed by CRLC, the property is dubbed a “LandLab” to serve as an outdoor classroom for K-12 students and people of all ages.

“Capital Region Land Conservancy is honored to partner with the National Park Service and have the Varina LandLab designated as a Chesapeake Gateways Site,” said CRLC Executive Director Parker Agelasto. “Our goal of conserving this property and connecting meaningful experiences for the public to engage with nature and learn from the incredible history of the property aligns with the National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways’ key pillar of creating welcoming spaces in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

“Any day of the week, visitors can explore more than four miles of trails while discovering scenic views of the James River, Four Mile Creek, and Roundabout Creek. It’s incredible that nearly 500 species of birds, plants, animals, insects, and fungi have been identified by community scientists at the Varina LandLab since its opening.” 

The Varina LandLab Conservation Area features a mix of woodlands, grass and wildflower meadows, river and creek bluffs, and an expansive history. Located off Route 5 and the Virginia Capital Trail and next to Henrico County’s Deep Bottom Park, the property was gifted to Capital Region Land Conservancy in 2021 and opened for public access in May 2023. It has been permanently protected since 2017 by a conservation easement co-held by Capital Region Land Conservancy and the Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District.
 
Since taking ownership of the property, CRLC and partners have planted more than 1,000 trees to expand the riparian buffer, restored 500-feet of an eroding drainage area, conducted prescribed burns on 100 acres of grassland, experimented with alternative treatments of invasive species, and preserved sensitive natural communities of native plants.
 
The landscape also has been witness to layers of indigenous, colonial, and Civil War history: from the high ground along Four Mile Creek where indigenous people lived since 2000 BCE, to bluffs overlooking the James River at an important pontoon bridge crossing where more than 28,000 Union troops advanced into the battles of First Deep Bottom, Second Deep Bottom, and New Market Heights during the Civil War.
 
The Varina LandLab is located on Deep Bottom Road and is open daily from dawn to dusk for hiking, birding, and environmental education. Visitors can enter at any of three parking area trailheads and will find interpretive signage as well as the site-specific environmental art installation Repurpose: a midpoint by sculptor Reece Camp Carter.

Directions, park rules, maps, as well as self-guided nature and history tours of the Varina LandLab trails are available at CRLC’s website.

CRLC hosts guided hikes and special events at the Varina LandLab for a fee. Learn more or donate to support the Varina LandLab by clicking here.

The National Park Service provides financial and technical assistance through the Chesapeake Gateways Network to promote, enhance, and conserve special places in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.