The Northern Neck Master Naturalists will meet at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, January 8, at Northumberland Public Library, 7204 Northumberland Highway, Heathsville.
Virginia Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Chesapeake Region steward Zack Bradford will speak on the four preserves in the Northern Neck.
“Virginia has 63 Natural Area Preserves all of which were created and are protected because they contain some of the rarest natural communities and unique species habitats in North America,” said president Kevin Howe. “The preserve system is managed by the Natural Heritage Division of the DCR and began in the late 1980s.”
Bradford is a botanist with a special interest is orchids and other rare plants in the region, said Howe. He is responsible for the oversight and management of the eight Preserves in the Middle and Northern Neck regions.
“We invite the public to attend the program and learn about the Virginia Master Naturalist Program, a group of trained volunteers with interests in nature, science and the outdoors, as well as learn about the Natural Area Preserves in Virginia,” he said.