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Botanical garden volunteers ask Halifax County for mowing, insurance coverage, manager and restrooms
Summary
Volunteers for the Halifax County botanical garden told supervisors the site provides education and tourism value and requested county mowing, addition to county liability insurance, a paid manager and restroom facilities; the Board included funding for mowing beginning July 1 in the proposed FY27 budget.
HALIFAX, Va. — A group of volunteers who maintain the Halifax County botanical garden urged the Board of Supervisors on May 19 to provide operational supports including county mowing, liability coverage, a paid manager and restroom facilities to sustain the site and expand educational programming.
Dorothy Day, speaking for the volunteers, introduced several long-time helpers and called them “some of the hardest-working individuals she had ever worked with.” She said the garden, established in 2010 and maintained largely by volunteers, hosts school groups and includes unique features such as a Native American area, a music garden and a native tree trail with hand-carved benches. Day asked the County to begin mowing garden grounds rather than having the garden pay separately for that service, to add the garden as an additional insured under county liability insurance, and to consider hiring a manager to coordinate volunteers and maintenance.
Other volunteers described the garden’s educational role: Joan Wilson highlighted involvement by high school horticulture and landscape classes, Pickett Craddock recounted volunteer plantings of roughly 1,000 native plants and said restroom facilities are seriously needed for the many student visits, and Leigh Baldwin discussed a proposed expansion of the garden’s Native American component and potential partnerships with Occaneechi and Saponi tribal representatives.
Pamela Dellen said the garden attracts visitors identified through the local visitor center and stressed the site’s tourism potential. Several speakers noted volunteers are aging and that continued reliance on volunteer labor alone will be difficult without additional county support.
After public comments, Vice Chair R. Smart notified the garden representatives that the Finance Committee had included funding in the proposed FY2027 budget to provide grass-cutting services; Chair Roller confirmed the service would begin July 1. Supervisor D. Witt thanked the volunteers and said the Board must evaluate priorities given limited funding but intends to support projects that are reasonable and financially achievable.
The public hearing was closed and the Board adjourned later that evening.
