Archived Outdoors

Conservation easement added at Sandy Mush

The property contains a diversity of plant life. SAHC photo The property contains a diversity of plant life. SAHC photo

A new conservation easement in Boyd Cove will protect 88 acres adjacent to thousands of already-protected acres in the Newfound Mountains of Sandy Mush in Buncombe County. 

Landowners Pattie and Ed Ellis have lived on the property since 1981, raising their two sons, learning to work the land and living close to the earth on their homestead. The conservation easement, held by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, will prevent future development on the tract, protecting the forested cove to ensure that habitat and water sources there remain undisturbed for future generations. The Ellis family has documented more than 100 species of plants and animals during their years living there, as well as 15 springs. 

“Sandy Mush is a special place, and we are glad to be part of the movement to preserve it,” says Ed Ellis. “When we learned about friends and neighbors in Sandy Mush conserving their properties, we wanted to do the same.”

Boyd Cove adjoins Robinson Rough Preserve, also protected by SAHC, and sits within a network of conservation lands that include the Long Branch Environmental Education Center, Sandy Mush Herb Nursery, Little Sandy Mush Bald Preserve and other privately owned properties. 

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.