Cloverlea Foundation

10/22/2026

Join Claytor Nature Center and Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club this morning!

Really looking forward to this! Join us! 🥾🍂🍁

10/21/2026

Join us THIS EVENING for October Wellness in Nature - Emotional Health and Su***de Prevention at Ayers Family Farm !

Sometimes the best place to have difficult conversations is outside, surrounded by nature, animals, and a supportive community.

Tonight at 5:30 PM, Cloverlea Foundation is partnering with Mae's Haven at Ayers Family Farm for a special gathering focused on mental health, su***de awareness, and prevention.

Over coffee and hot chocolate, we'll explore the unique mental health challenges facing farmers and those working in agriculture, discuss su***de prevention and available community resources, and experience how connecting with nature and animals can support emotional well-being.

The evening will also include interactive experiences with farm animals and a demonstration with one of the farm's horses, offering a glimpse into the connections between humans, animals, and emotional wellness.

Whether you're connected to the agricultural community, interested in mental health advocacy, or simply looking for a meaningful opportunity to connect, we hope you'll join us.

Wednesday, October 21 | 5:30 PM
Mae's Haven at Ayers Family Farm

This program is part of Cloverlea Foundation's Wellness in Nature series, generously sponsored by Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital .

Come for the conversation, the connection, and a little time in nature. We hope to see you there!

10/16/2026

Happy Claytor Day from Cloverlea Foundation!

On October 16, 1998, Boyd Claytor made an extraordinary gift to our community by placing Cloverlea Farm under a easement and donating the property to then-Lynchburg College, establishing what we know today as Claytor Nature Center .

Today, 28 years later, we celebrate his vision and the lasting legacy of conservation, education, and community stewardship.

Members of Cloverlea Foundation are gathering for an informal hike on the trails at 10 AM today, and we're delighted that Claytor Nature Center is recognizing this special anniversary with its Claytor Homecoming celebration during the University of Lynchburg's Homecoming weekend.

And what better way to celebrate land conservation than by learning more about it? Blue Ridge Land Conservancy's conservation easement workshop is happening this morning at the Destination Bedford Virginia Area Welcome Center, beginning at 8:30 AM!

We encourage everyone to take some time to appreciate the natural spaces that have been protected through the generosity and foresight of landowners like Boyd Claytor.

Here's to preserving special places for generations to come!

10/15/2026

Our friend and volunteer Josh Urban is helping with a program at Patrick Henry's Red Hill this Saturday night! Join for some local astronomy outreach and history; two things that we also love combining with our programs in Bedford!

Join stargazer Josh Urban and Patrick Henry’s Red Hill staff for a fun-filled evening of stargazing and story-telling centering around astronomy and the nation’s history. This event will take place on […]

10/15/2026

Date change!

Just a reminder!
Coffee on the Porch has been bumped to next Thursday!

10/14/2026

Mental health and matter—and no one should face difficult times alone.

Join Cloverlea Foundation next Wednesday, October 21, at 5:30 PM for our next program with Mae's Haven at Ayers Family Farm . We’ll explore emotional wellness, su***de prevention, and the healing power of nature and animals.

October Wellness in Nature - Emotional Health and Su***de Prevention

Community partners will discuss mental health resources, equine-assisted approaches to wellness, and the unique challenges facing farmers and agricultural communities.

Whether you’re seeking resources, supporting someone you care about, or learning how to better support others, we hope you’ll join us.

***dePrevention starts with awareness, connection, and conversations that matter.

Wednesday, October 21 | 5:30 PM
Mae’s Haven at Ayers Family Farm

This program is part of Cloverlea Foundation’s Wellness in Nature series, generously sponsored by Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital .

Help spread the word by sharing this invitation with someone who may benefit from the conversation.

10/07/2026

Land conservation has long been part of the story of Bedford County—and it continues to be an increasingly important conversation.

During Claytor Nature Center 's temporary closure in February 2025, Cloverlea Foundation hosted a panel discussion with area experts and landowners to help our community better understand easements and the role they can play in protecting special places. With conversations around data centers, development, and a changing climate on the minds of many today, that topic feels more relevant than ever.

We’re grateful to Blue Ridge Land Conservancy Blue Ridge Land Conservancy and Bedford County Economic Development Bedford County Econ Dev for making this information and process accessible to local landowners, and for the many Bedford-area families who have had the foresight to conserve farms and properties—including Claytor Nature Center and Peaksville Place.

It seems especially fitting that this workshop will be held on October 16—the anniversary of the day the Claytor Nature Center property was gifted and placed into conservation easement.

Protecting special places for future generations is in action.

10/06/2026

Page 8 of our Autumnal Equinox newsletter offers a look back—and a look ahead.

This season brought together history, wellness, astronomy, and hands-on stewardship through workshops, conversations, preservation projects, trail work, and nights under the stars.

The page also highlights an important piece of the Cloverlea History Project: a 1909 photograph documenting a structure identified as a “Slave’s kitchen” on the historic property. Along with other records, it reminds us that placekeeping also means approaching the more difficult parts of a place’s history with care, respect, and a commitment to learning more.

As we move into another season, we’re grateful for everyone helping us learn, connect, and care for the places we value.

10/05/2026

Page 7 of our newsletter takes us deeper into the Cloverlea History Project and the connections that continue to emerge across our region.

From preserving the historic Peaksville country store and exploring the school-day connections between Peaksville and Cloverlea Farm, to tracing the Claytor family story to Lynchburg’s Miller-Claytor House, each piece helps us better understand how our local places, families, and stories are connected.

We’re grateful for the volunteers and regional partners who continue to contribute their knowledge, resources, and expertise to this evolving project. We are looking forward to upcoming collaborations to celebrate these stories over the next season!
University of Lynchburg Department of History
Bedford Museum & Genealogical Library
LadyTaphos
Southern Flavoring
LYH Historical Foundation

Special thanks to Bedford Cooperative - Bedford and Kings Rental Club for in kind contributions!