Did you know that the Triangle Land Conservancy has permanently conserved 23,000+ acres of land in the Triangle since its start in 1983? This year, the TLC is celebrating 40 years of protecting natural habitats and connecting people with nature.

Two of the TLC's eight public nature preserves are in Wake County, including Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve (4409 Mial Plantation Rd., Raleigh) and Swift Creek Bluffs Nature Preserve (7800 Holly Springs Rd., Raleigh).

Celebrate the TLC — and the Year of the Trail — at one of these free upcoming group hikes:

Fairy Hike and Picnic | Saturday, March 4 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Brumley Family Nature Preserve, 3620 Old State Hwy. 10, Chapel Hill
Spring Wildflower Hike | Sunday, March 19 | 9:30-11 a.m. | Swift Creek Bluffs Nature Preserve, 7800 Holly Springs Rd., Raleigh
Spring Equinox Sunset Hike | Monday, March 20 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | White Pines Nature Preserve, 548 S. Rocky River Rd., Sanford