FOLAR at 25: Looking back, forging ahead By Dr. Jackson Bartlett, Executive Director This year is FOLAR’s 25th anniversary. As I look back on all this organization has been a part of and all that it’s been able to achieve, I am humbled. That’s because FOLAR isn’t just an organization. It represents the cumulative effort…
By Elise Neuscheler FOLAR was recently invited to speak during an educational walk for local co-ed Scout Group 2877. As FOLAR’s Environmental Stewardship Coordinator, I guided the Scouts along the Appomattox River Trail in Colonial Heights, using the riverbank as a living classroom. The group totaled 25+ scouts and scout leaders, with children from…
By Elise Neuscheler Lately, visitors to the University Boulevard trailhead of the Appomattox River Trail have found new locations to relax and enjoy their local nature, thanks to extensive invasive plant removal by countless FOLAR volunteers over the years. One of FOLAR’s star volunteers and a local history fanatic, Barry Lewis, has been steadily…
By Makayla Hamlin October 10 is National Walk to a Park Day and what better place to do that than on the Appomattox River Trail. However, most people in America do not have the privilege to walk to a park. For those who do not have a designated walking trail near them or cannot/…
By Makayla Hamlin Over 700 acres of the lower Appomattox River corridor are protected from future development, including public parks and private conservation easements. It is also an inherently protected habitat for the many animals that call it home. September 4 is National Wildlife Day, and it’s time to shine a light on the…
By Jackson Bartlett, Executive Director I hope that you’re enjoying these last days of summer. I’m honored to be writing you as the new Executive Director of Friends of the Lower Appomattox River. There’s no warmer welcome than that which I’ve received from the Board of Trustees, and from the staff, our volunteers, and our…
Get your paddles ready, because the Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR)’s 17th annual Paddle Battle is coming to the river on Saturday, September 27! Every year during our annual Paddle Battle, friends and river folks paddle downstream from Petersburg to Hopewell on the scenic Appomattox River. During this year’s event on September 27,…
FOLAR is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Jackson Christopher Bartlett as its new Executive Director, effective August 1, 2025. Along with his many years of experience in leadership, fundraising, communications, and board relations, Dr. Bartlett brings a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, education, and community engagement. “We are thrilled to welcome Jackson as…
By Elise Neuscheler It was expected for several years – Spotted Lanternflies, Lycorma delicatula, native to East Asia, have been making their way down the east coast, and have hit the tri-cities area. These insects have a close relationship with the invasive “Tree of Heaven,” Ailanthus altissima, which is also a native of East Asia…
By Makayla Hamlin If you’ve opted for the outdoor option at restaurants, you may have an upper hand over all of us who choose to eat inside. July is National Picnic Month, so let’s talk about one great advantage of eating outside: the Sun. When your skin is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet…