Working Lands Trust Secures Permanent Protection for Historic Bladen County Farm
Bladen County, NC – July 2025 — Working Lands Trust (WLT), North Carolina’s only land trust dedicated solely to conserving working farms and forests, is pleased to announce the permanent protection of Wildwood Farm.
Located in Bladen County, Wildwood Farm spans approximately 350 acres and has been in the Shaw family for five generations. This conservation easement safeguards the farm’s long-standing contributions to the regional food and fiber economy while preserving its scenic and ecological value for future generations.
A Shared Commitment to Agriculture and Heritage
- Preserving farm as working land: Through this easement, the farm is legally protected from future subdivision, residential or commercial development, ensuring its continued use for farming operations.
- Protecting regional farmland: North Carolina faces dramatic pressures from development—over 1.2 million acres of farmland at risk statewide by 2040. Local conservation efforts like this play an essential role in halting that trend landtrustalliance.org+9ffa.org+9facebook.com+9ncagr.gov.
- Supporting sustainable ag community: By partnering with WLT, the Shaw family helps sustain Bladen County’s rural heritage and strengthens the local economy.
Quotes
“This farm has been a part of my family’s legacy and by putting it in a conservation easement, I can be assured that my heritage is protected,” says Albert Shaw. “This easement will allow me to continue doing what I want to do, farming, and provide some capital for the operation and my family.”
“We are incredibly fortunate as an organization to work with extraordinary families like the Shaws,” said Mikey Fulk, Executive Director of Working Lands Trust. “Farmland conservation impacts every North Carolinian—regardless of background—because agriculture and timber are foundational industries that nourish and clothe our communities every day. We are honored to support and partner with dedicated farmers like Albert Shaw in preserving these vital working lands for future generations.”
About Wildwood Farm
The story of Wildwood Farm spans back to the early 19th century, when Daniel Shaw married Mary McMillian. In 1821, Mary inherited the farm that would become known as Wildwood Farm. For five generations and over two hundred years, the Shaw family has utilized the land to raise a variety of crops, including cotton and tobacco, as well as feed crops for their livestock, beef cattle, and hogs. Carrying on in the tradition of his forebearers, Mr. Shaw continues to use the farm for those same purposes in addition to running a well-managed timber operation. Under his care, blending both traditional and modern farming practices, Wildwood Farm has proven to be a valued member of Bladen County’s agricultural community.