WILMINGTON – The Coastal Land Trust has announced the purchase of 247 acres of Jones County property. A press release from the land trust says their Island Creek purchase lies adjacent to a portion of the Croatan National Forest southwest of New Bern. It says flora found on the property includes many rare species as well as species typically only found in the state’s Piedmont and mountain regions. Money used for the purchase came in part from $7.3 million the Land Trust received as part of the Havelock bypass settlement last year. Funds were also provided by private philanthropists Fred and Alice Stanback.