Sussex County Land Trust

08/27/2026

🌿 Have you ever wondered what YOU can do to help save Sussex County’s open space?

Here’s one really fun way: Volunteer at the Dogfish Dash! 🏃🙋

Volunteer registration is OPEN for the 2026 Dogfish Dash, benefiting the Sussex County Land Trust.

It takes a whole lot of helping hands to pull off Dash Week, and we have volunteer opportunities available Wednesday, September 23 through race day on Sunday, September 27.

Volunteers of all ages are welcome! Bring the family, grab a friend, or get a group together and join us. Whether you can give us a few hours during the week or want to be right in the middle of the action on Dash Day, we’d love to have you on the team.

Last year, the Dogfish Dash raised an incredible $109,000 for open space preservation in Sussex County. Every volunteer shift helps make that impact possible. 💚

👉 Pick your shift and sign up: https://signup.com/go/ZuPJGmq

08/25/2026

A massive milestone for Sussex County: the official preservation of Ard Na Gréine, an 88 acre family farm in Lewes.

The preservation is especially meaningful in 2026 as the Sussex County Land Trust celebrates its 25th anniversary and 25 years of protecting the natural, agricultural, cultural, and recreational resources that make Sussex County special.

The effort to preserve Ard Na Gréine began in 2019, and after years of collaboration, the property was officially preserved earlier this year.

Located east of Route 1, it is one of the last remaining larger tracts of open space in the greater Lewes area and has been part of the Wells family story for more than 70 years.
Making this possible took a major public and private partnership involving many parties included with a few listed such as the Sussex County Land Trust, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, DNREC, Sussex County Council, the Longwood Foundation, the Greater Lewes Foundation, and the general local community, including $1.25 million raised through private and anonymous donations.

Ard Na Gréine will remain an active farm while the Sussex County Land Trust begins a long term planning process that will balance agriculture and conservation with the potential for future passive recreation and public access including walking trails & open space for enjoying nature, bird watching, and much more.

Since its founding in 2001, the Sussex County Land Trust has helped preserve more than 6,400 acres across Sussex County. Ard Na Gréine is now part of that legacy and an important piece of what is possible when many people work together in a shared mission.

Thank you to the Sussex County Land Trust for inviting us to be part of such a special day

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08/25/2026

🌿 We're hiring! Join the Sussex County Land Trust team!

SCLT is looking for a part-time Operations Coordinator to help keep the behind-the-scenes work of the Land Trust running smoothly.

This 20–25 hour-per-week position will support financial administration, payroll, our Bloomerang donor database, Board activities, and day-to-day office operations.

We're looking for someone who is organized, detail-oriented, comfortable with technology, and excited to be part of a small team doing meaningful work for Sussex County. Experience with QuickBooks, payroll, CRM systems, nonprofit operations, and AI or automation tools is a plus.

🏡 Flexible hybrid schedule
⏰ 20–25 hours per week
🌱 Opportunity for the role to grow as SCLT grows

Interested—or know someone who might be a great fit? Check out the full job description and application details , and please share to help us spread the word!

08/20/2026

Thank you WHYY for joining us at our Ard Na Greine celebration yesterday!

The Ard Na Gréine farm was owned by the same family in Lewes for decades. Now, it will be protected from development and, eventually, made open for public recreation.

08/20/2026

Thank you CoastTV News for the coverage of our event yesterday!

08/20/2026

Thanks 47 ABC - WMDT for the great coverage of our event yesterday!

LEWES, Del.– Non-profit County Land Trust has deemed Ard Na Gréine worthy of perserving because of the land’s rich agricultural history and natural beauty, the area’s special location and innate serentity are not lost on the First State Leaders. DENREC Secretary Greg Patterson says it doesn.....

08/19/2026

🌿 What a morning at Ard Na Gréine!

Today, we gathered under a beautiful Sussex County sky to celebrate the permanent preservation of 88 acres in Lewes — a milestone nearly a decade in the making and one of the most significant conservation achievements in the Sussex County Land Trust’s 25-year history.

We were honored to be joined by leaders representing federal, state, and county government, along with the donors, conservation partners, current and former SCLT leaders, and friends whose persistence and belief in this project made today possible.

A special thank you to U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, Congresswoman Sarah McBride, Matt Meyer, Delaware DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson, and Sussex County, Del., government President Doug Hudson for joining us and sharing remarks about the importance of preserving places like Ard Na Gréine.

This property was protected because people came together around a shared belief that this land was worth saving. Mark and Estie Class were the first private donors to step forward, making an extraordinary commitment that helped set this effort in motion. From there, support grew through additional private donors and the Greater Lewes Foundation, DNREC and the Delaware Open Space Council, Sussex County, USDA-NRCS, and the Longwood Foundation. Each commitment built upon the one before it.

Today was a celebration, but it was also a beginning.

Next, we turn our attention to master planning and shaping a future for Ard Na Gréine that honors its agricultural heritage, protects its natural resources, and creates thoughtful opportunities for conservation, education, and public access.

And we want the community to be part of that process. Be on the lookout for upcoming community engagement opportunities where you can share your ideas and help shape the master plan for Ard Na Gréine.

Thank you to everyone who helped us reach this day. 💚

This is what conservation through collaboration looks like.

08/11/2026

Did you catch us on CoastLife TV yesterday talking about the 19th Annual Dogfish Dash with Dogfish Head? Registration is open! Head to dogfish.com/dash

The Dogfish Dash returns September 27, bringing runners, walkers, music, and the community together while raising funds for the Sussex County Land Trust. Learn how the event supports local trails,

08/07/2026

🏃 A partnership we’re pretty proud of.🌱

Our friends at have been incredible partners in supporting the Sussex County Land Trust and our work to safeguard the land and resources that make Sussex County special.

One of the best examples? The Dogfish Dash — an annual tradition that brings people together to run for nature!

🎉 Registration is NOW OPEN for the 2026 Dogfish Dash!

📅 Sunday, September 27
🏃 Register to run
🤝 Sponsorship opportunities are still available

Whether you join us at the starting line or support the event as a sponsor, you’re helping turn a great day in Milton into meaningful support for land conservation throughout Sussex County.

We’re grateful to Dogfish Head for continuing to champion our mission — and we can’t wait to Dash with you this September!

🔗 Register or learn more: https://www.dogfish.com/dash

Interested in sponsoring? Contact us at [email protected].

Special thanks to Creative Wealth Management, LLC for the opportunity to sit down and gush about our incredible supporters and the mission-driven work happening all across Sussex County. 🌱

Want to hear more? Listen to the full podcast here: https://bit.ly/scltpodcast

07/05/2026

Thank you Cape Gazette for covering our Stars Over Sussex event in partnership with Rocking The Docks! What a fun night!🇺🇸🎆