A $250,000 gift by Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation to buy land for public use in the New River Gorge was recognized during Thursday's annual meeting of The Nature Conservancy of West Virginia's Corporate Council.

Lowe's donation allowed The Nature Conservancy to buy 4,500 acres of land for addition to the Beury Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The conservancy used the funds to buy the acreage when it became available in 2008, and hold it until the state Division of Natural Resources acquired the money needed to purchase the land.

The property, adjacent to the New River Gorge National River, includes forest game habitat and protects a sectioin of a native brook trout stream.

The donation "exemplifies Lowe's longstanding commitment to The Nature Conservancy to support important initiatives that improve, conserve or maintain natural habitats and resources," said George Cox, Lowe's district manager.

Gov. Joe Manchin said the gift helped provide "a new place for public recreation, continuing to make West Virginia a destination for tourists and improving the quality of life for West Virginians."

A $250,000 gift by Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation to buy land for public use in the New River Gorge was recognized during Thursday's annual meeting of The Nature Conservancy of West Virginia's Corporate Council.

Lowe's donation allowed The Nature Conservancy to buy 4,500 acres of land for addition to the Beury Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The conservancy used the funds to buy the acreage when it became available in 2008, and hold it until the state Division of Natural Resources acquired the money needed to purchase the land.

The property, adjacent to the New River Gorge National River, includes forest game habitat and protects a sectioin of a native brook trout stream.

The donation "exemplifies Lowe's longstanding commitment to The Nature Conservancy to support important initiatives that improve, conserve or maintain natural habitats and resources," said George Cox, Lowe's district manager.

Gov. Joe Manchin said the gift helped provide "a new place for public recreation, continuing to make West Virginia a destination for tourists and improving the quality of life for West Virginians."