LG&E and Bernheim Forest are cooperating after a years-long legal battle.

CLERMONT, Ky. — At 100 feet wide, a swathe of dugout land cuts through about 100 acres owned by Bernheim Forest and Arboretum. 

It’s rarely open to visitors, but only a 10-mile drive north from the main ground’s welcome gate. This marks the site of a controversial LG&E natural gas pipeline the company says will meet growing demand in Bullitt County. 

LG&E stated that 9,500 households need the new natural gas pipeline for reliable service—and that hundreds more new home connections will be made after construction wraps at the end of the year. 

“So we still have 480 acres, or whatever it is, of natural forest in that area,” Bernheim CEO Mark Wourms said. “So we’re very proud of the fact that this is a scar. But that’s what it is, a scar.” 


The non-profit lost a six-year legal battle against the power corporation, trying to avoid that scar.

“We can’t do anything about it,” Wourms said, “so now we’re moving forward.”

Moving forward—together. 

In a statement, LG&E wrote in part: “We appreciate the opportunity to work with Bernheim, as with all property owners, on restoration,” adding that other property owners can access the pipeline easement after construction for “driving vehicles, growing crops, pasturing animals and other activities.” 

This rewilding idea already took root in the main forest that’s open to the public. 

“Every time people go down that trail, they stop and take a picture of a butterfly,” Bernheim spokesman Andrew Berry said near the newly-named Tin Man Meadow.


He explained the native plants they plan on bringing back to the scar.

“It’s gonna be heavy in milkweeds, coneflowers, mountain mints and other species that are gonna attract grassland birds,” he said, adding the increase in insects attracts bats too. 

A practice Wourms says can bring pollinators to homes as well.

“We invite everybody out to Bernheim to see how they can manage their yards, their gardens, how they can work in their community, what kinds of trees they can plant—how to live a softer life on this planet,” he said. 

A softness hard to come by as development grows.

LG&E said use of the utility easement is fine so long as nothing blocks them from accessing the pipeline.