With a common love of "the land" drawing them together, Audrey Booth, Oliver Orr and Pearson Stewart are among more than 73 Carol Woods residents who have played an active part in the Triangle Land Conservancy over the last 25 years.

They recently celebrated TLC's 25th anniversary with a picnic at the Cane Creek Reservoir.

The mission of the conservancy is to "protect important open space -- stream corridors, forests, wildlife habitat, farmland, and natural areas -- to help keep our region a healthy and vibrant place to live and work." Over the years, land within Lee, Wake, Durham, Chatham, Orange and Johnston counties has been purchased, stabilized and preserved for now and generations to come. Through volunteer energies and donations, the conservancy has helped to balance growth and conservation.

When interviewed about their parts in this organization, Booth, Orr and Stewart all drew from their heritage. Booth grew up on a farm in Nebraska.

"I was born into nature: the land, animals, birds," she said. "It has stuck with me. I came to North Carolina for education, with all intentions to return to Hawaii (where she had been living), but traveling from the ocean to the mountains, I became very acquainted with this gorgeous state."

Stewart reflected a similar theme. Born and raised in Massachusetts, he came to North Carolina to work with others to establish the Research Triangle Park.

"My father had a love of horticulture," he said. "His passion was to take us (Pearson and his three brothers) on walks and trips throughout the area to see the beauty that was everywhere."

Orr, a North Carolinian hailing from Brevard, talked about his mother's love for wildflowers, his older brother's interest in birds, and his father's zest for long walks in the woods.

"We all loved to hike in the mountains," he said. "My parents were sensitive to anything that was natural."

Stewart smiled and mentioned his start as a volunteer.

"The most important influence was my wife, Jean," he said. "She was active with the N.C. Botanical Garden for more than 25 years, and I wanted to keep her happy. While working on the RTP, one of my roles was to work with the surrounding communities that had to deal with the impact of the Park. The Regional Planning Commission eventually evolved into the Triangle J Council of Governments. As the council began to look for open space for the region, suggestions were made for a local land trust and from these efforts TLC was born."

The first project, and the one Stewart holds most dear, was the White Pines Preserve.

"Based on nothing but our hopes and the good will of the owner, we obtained an option and started to raise money so we could preserve this wonderful area," he said. "At that time there was no agency to take care of it, so the people did."

When approached by Booth to join TLC after settling into Carol Woods, Orr said, "I was a member before she even knew I was a member!" Together they were designated "site stewards" (upkeepers, trash collectors, fixer-uppers of parking lots, and trails,) for the 296 acres of the James M. Johnston Mill Preserve off Turkey Farm Road in Chapel Hill.

They alternated at the task.

"On my off days," Orr said, "I often wandered deep into the preserve, noting the varied terrain and the sources of streams, watching for wildlife, and looking for boundary markers and relics of human habitation."

Booth has been honored for her contributions in several ways. The ephemeral stream flowing into New Hope Creek at the Johnston Mill Preserve was named Booth Branch. Also, the N.C. Land Trust and the Conservation Trust for North Carolina named Booth conservationist of the year in 2000 for her participation in acquiring the land and funding for the Johnston Mill Preserve.

Stewart received the statewide conservationist of the year award in 2007 for his pioneering role in establishing TLC and the lead role in securing the first property -- the unique White Pines Preserve.

Booth and Stewart assisted Kevin Brice, TCL president and CEO, in planning October's picnic at Cane Creek Reservoir. Chris and Bob Nutter, owners of Maple View Farm, were honored at the picnic for their far-sightedness in placing their farmland holdings in an easement with TLC which assures it being used only as farmland into perpetuity.

"It's a quest -- birding, fundraising, searching for land to save," Booth said about conservation work.

Orr put it this way: "I believe that the human species, as the most intelligent form of life on earth, is obligated to be its steward."

When asked why he believed this organization to be important for our state, Stewart glanced to his right and said, "Just take a look outside."

The "outside" he pointed to was a beautiful grove of trees with vivid reds, brilliant yellows, shinny greens and oranges glistening in the fall sun.

In Brief

Carol Woods received the 2007 Inaugural Pathways to Greatness Award at the monthly Resident Association meeting on Nov. 13.

Developed by LarsonAllen, a CPA, consulting and advisory firm serving aging service providers across the nation, in conjunction with the American Association of Home and Services of the Aging, the intent of this recognition program is to define the primary attributes of high-quality aging services organizations and recognize high-performing providers for their excellence.

Applicants across the country were rated by a panel of experts in the areas of leadership, superior performance, distinctive impact, best practices/innovations and customer feedback.

Kerry Hagner, a member of the Carol Woods' dining services staff, was recognized at the November Residence Association meeting for earning gold and silver medals in cycling at the Special Olympics held in Shanghai, China.