A slice of paradise amid sprawl: the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve offers respite in a fast-growing area of Virginia.

Only 20 years ago, Loudoun County, Va., was considered to be outside of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The landscape was full of trees and farmland, and there were but a few diehards who commuted the 30 or more miles to Washington and its surrounding areas to get to work.

Now that scenery has changed. A new resident moves into the county every 48 minutes, making Loudoun County one of the fastest-growing counties in the country. Shopping malls and townhouse developments clutter the landscape that once was green pastures and uninhabited land. Roads have begun to choke and crack under the weight of additional traffic.

Fortunately, for residents old and new, there remains a haven, a slice of paradise.

On the outskirts of the county's seat, Leesburg, is Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, a 700-acre sanctum of fields full of wildflowers and wildlife. Its unique name is believed to have come from one of its former owners. Jordan Luck, of Scots-Irish descent, came home late one night after spending too much time at a local tavern. With the assistance of too much alcohol, the legend goes, Luck heard "banshee in the reeks." ("Banshee" is Gaelic for "female spirit," and "reeks" means "vapor" or "mist.") Over time, the saying was condensed to "Banshee Reeks."

But the unusual name isn't the only unique aspect of this preserve. The ponds, river bottom lands, meadows and wetlands that make up the preserve are home to such birds as the common loon, mallard, wild turkey, barn owl, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, herring gull and red-tailed hawk, to name just a few. And such rare bird species as the ruddy duck, dunlin and whip-poor-will have also made an appearance on the preserve.

And what would a nature preserve be without wildlife? White-tailed deer, redback salamanders, American painted lady butterflies, Canadian geese, American toads, bullfrogs and snapping turtles are, again, just a few of the wildlife species that scurry, toddle, fly, run and swim within the preserve.

Flora, Fauna and More

Although the diversity of the natural atmosphere of the preserve leaves most visitors awestruck, there's more to Banshee Reeks than bark and grass. "Historical preservation and inventory is every bit as important as the ecological/environment aspects [of Banshee Reeks]," states Ron Circe, the preserve's manager.

Currently, the preserve is under a Phase I archeological survey. This initial step involves the tedious work of digging every 50 feet over the entire property. A hole, or pit, is dug to a certain parameter depth and size. Soil from these pits is sifted, in hopes of finding artifacts from the past. So far, arrowheads, porcelain pieces and metal have been discovered. But the teams have many more pits to dig. Once all the pits are dug and examined, "positive sites" will be examined more closely. As each link to the past is unearthed, many are reminded that there were cultures here long before townhouses and highways. "It's important to understand the history of Banshee Reeks, as this will assist us in the interpretation of what has gone on here. This area has been occupied for thousands of years and we know very little," says Circe.

Evidence of human existence on this land through time is evident by many of the structures sprinkled throughout the preserve. The Manor House contains the park's offices as well as the visitor's center. Further out in the fields is an 1880s log cabin and a bank barn. Silos that were once used for farming are now excellent nesting sites for owls. The skeleton of a spring house, where it's believed crocks of milk and butter were stored, still exists. (The spring's temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.) As the archeological study advances, more structures may be discovered.

Another interesting aspect of the preserve is that it's administered by the county's Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services. The preserve is thought to be one of a few--or perhaps the only--nature preserve of its kind that's run by county government. Land management and preservation of this magnitude is usually only constructed and maintained by private organizations or citizens. But Banshee Reeks, in so many ways, is different.

County government purchased the land from a farmer in 1995. Initially, the county thought of using Banshee Reeks as a place of active recreation. Equestrian trails, ball fields and other recreational activities were planned for the acquired land. But when the public had its say, it was fairly overwhelming--keep the land as a natural oasis.

Blueprints and Winging It

Environmentalists, historians and county citizens applauded the decision to keep the land as a nature preserve, but creating such a sanctuary hasn't been easy. Banshee Reeks is setting a precedent, creating blueprints for future similar projects. But as with anything new, there's not much previous experience to draw from. County park and recreation departments are used to ordering sports equipment, benches and trail markers. With Banshee Reeks, things are a bit different. The county queried Circa when he ordered parabolic microphones, field guides, seine nets, bird-banding equipment and spotting scopes. This equipment is necessary for identifying and monitoring the multiple plant and wildlife species within the preserve. It's just another example of what makes the preserve distinctive from a park.

One of the goals of the preserve is to foster education. There are monthly bird walks and annual butterfly counts. Other special classes are arranged, such as rainbarrel making, chainsaw safety and learning global positioning systems for navigating. An education center is planned for the future. The county is still learning how to use the preserve more effectively for public education. It's a learning process for both the county and its citizens on how best to use the land effectively and responsibly.

Another challenge has been limited staff. Currently, the preserve is open to the public only the third weekend of each month. And that happens only because of the generosity of a corps of volunteers called VIVA (Visitor Information Volunteer Association). Volunteers have logged more than 500 hours on Saturdays alone this year. Additional volunteer hours have been cataloged for designing brochures, setting up and maintaining aquariums, training, gardening and instructing. When asked what was the best part about volunteering at the preserve, Frank Good comments, "Everything! I've learned more about birds, animals, plants, trees and area history."

However, the challenges faced by Banshee Reeks often lead to triumphs. A widely read local magazine, Loudoun, dedicated ten pages to Banshee Reeks in its latest issue. The world-renowned photographer and former National Geographic employee, Bruce Dale, took the photos for the article. He was pleased enough with the preserve that a meet-and-greet reception has been scheduled with him at the preserve in November. This is a rare and generous opportunity for both the preserve and the public.

Another triumph was last year's first small landowner workshop. This class taught landowners with 50 acres or less how to manage their property to attract wildlife. This course was designed and implemented thanks to a partnership with the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, Department of Forestry, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and Loudoun County Soil & Water Conservation.

While the desire to educate the public is strong at Banshee Reeks, there's a delicate balance that must be struck to maintain the naturalness of such a setting. Preserve policies are short and sweet, but immensely necessary. There's a "Leave No Trace" policy in effect for all visitors. This means if you carry trash in, you carry it out. Walking only on marked trails is allowed so that wildlife and plants are not disturbed. Bicycles and motorcycles are prohibited. No alcohol or firearms are allowed. Neither are picnics. The preserve's motto is, "Take only pictures ... leave only footprints."

Despite the challenges, or maybe because of them, Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve is destined for great things. With its unique purpose and trend-setting steps taken to reach that purpose, the preserve is not only allowing local residents the opportunity to learn about nature and history first-hand, it's also setting a valuable model for the country in how important preservation is.

Christyna Hunter is a freelance writer working in Virginia. To learn more about Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, go to www.bansheereeks.org.