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…
Calling all river neighbors! You’re needed as we work together to preserve the Appomattox River! We’re gathering Riverfront Champions together to unite as a community group where we can share river care resources, learn from each other about preserving views while reducing erosion and strengthening shorelines, and ultimately, work together to protect our shared resource.…
By Makayla Hamlin With 16 riverside parks, 8 boat access points, and 3 marinas, there are many areas to get close to the water on the trail. As June 2-8th is National Fishing and Boating Week, we thought it would be nice to have a collected list of tips for boating and fishing on the…