October 26, 2015
Woodford Reserve and The Nature Conservancy will host a volunteer workday at Woodford Reserve Distillery on November 4 as part of a multi-year project aimed at restoring important parts of the distillery to a healthier, more natural condition. As part of this effort, volunteers and staff from both organizations will plant more than 230 native trees and shrubs.
“At Woodford Reserve, we believe that taking care of our environment and our neighbors is an important part of our community,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Production Manager at the Woodford Reserve Distillery. “This project will provide natural habitat for local wildlife and enhance water quality in Glenn’s Creek.”
The Conservancy and Woodford Reserve share a common goal – ensuring that the planet’s growing population will have the natural resources required in order to thrive while preserving the health of lands and waters for future generations. Clean and readily available water is also a vital ingredient in producing Woodford Reserve, and the distillery understands the need to protect water resources. With guidance and implementation work from the Conservancy, the distillery has planted native vegetation along Glenn’s Creek to act as a natural stormwater filter, improving water quality both in the property’s pond and downstream. Future work to replace portions of mown lawns and fields with native vegetation will attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, require less maintenance and mowing, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“We know that nature has great value to business, and we are beginning to understand how to better account for this natural capital,” says David Phemister, Kentucky State Director for The Nature Conservancy. “This project is a clear win for Woodford Reserve, for the Conservancy and for the community. We hope this inspires other organizations to come together and craft real solutions to protect water quality, restore habitat and preserve natural areas for future generations.”
Partnerships like this one allow organizations to leverage the unique assets each brings to the table to make impacts at greater scale; in this case, Woodford Reserve owns land along Glenn’s Creek and has committed financial resources to the project, while the Conservancy brings expertise in native restoration and skilled staff with experience carrying out such projects. Protecting water quality in tributaries such as Glenn’s Creek will improve water quality of larger bodies of water that they feed into.
Brown-Forman, parent company of Woodford Reserve, and the Conservancy have worked together since Sally Brown helped found the organization’s Kentucky Chapter in 1975. Brown, the wife of former Brown-Forman Board Chair W.L. Lyons Brown, was a dedicated supporter and the company has been a contributor and partner for decades. The two organizations currently work together on a number of projects, and are both sponsors of a community tree planting hosted by Brightside Inc. in Louisville on November 6 and 7.
About Woodford Reserve Woodford Reserve is a product of the Brown-Forman Corporation, a producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands such as Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Korbel, Tequila Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, and Tuaca. For more information on Woodford Reserve, visit www.woodfordreserve.com or visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/woodfordreserve. Please enjoy your bourbon responsibly. Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45.2% Alc. by Vol., produced and bottled by the Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY ©2015
About The Nature Conservancy Since opening its doors in 1975, The Nature Conservancy’s Kentucky Chapter has protected over 40,000 acres of diverse habitat throughout the state, including more than 8,000 acres by direct ownership and 6,500 acres by conservation easements. During this time, we have also helped to conserve more than 100,000 acres of additional lands and waters throughout the Commonwealth in partnership with corporations, government agencies, conservation organizations and private landowners, partnerships made possible by support of a loyal and dedicated membership. For more information, please visit nature.org/Kentucky.
