The Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest is a
state forest located in the
Piedmont of
Virginia in
Appomattox and
Buckingham
Buckingham ( ) is a market town in north Buckinghamshire, England, close to the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire, which had a population of 12,890 at the 2011 Census. The town lies approximately west of Central Milton Keynes, sou ...
counties. Its are covered with a mix of
oak-hickory and
pine forest. Dominant tree species include
oaks (
white,
chestnut
The chestnuts are the deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Castanea'', in the beech family Fagaceae. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.
The unrelat ...
,
black,
northern red,
southern red and
scarlet
Scarlet may refer to:
* Scarlet (cloth), a type of woollen cloth common in medieval England
* Scarlet (color), a bright tone of red that is slightly toward orange, named after the cloth
* Scarlet (dye), the dye used to give the cloth its color
* ...
),
hickories (
mockernut and
pignut),
yellow poplar,
red maple, and
pines (
loblolly,
shortleaf, and
Virginia). It is the largest state forest in Virginia.
History
The forest was originally farmland that was intensively used until the 1930s. At that point in time, the land was depleted and the United States Government purchased it as part of the
Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act. In 1954, the tract of land was turned over to
Virginia, creating the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest. Many
homesteads from the former farmers can be found in the forest. The
Virginia Department of Forestry continues to work to transition the regenerating forest to a mixed
ecosystem.
Recreation
The Carter-Taylor Trail is a loop trail open for walking, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. All motorized vehicles are prohibited on the trail. The forest also has various gated trails and forest roads that can be used. Boating, fishing, and hunting are all allowed in the forest.
is surrounded by the forest. The park offers camping, picnicking, swimming, boating, and hiking. Permanent campsites are installed inside the park.
See also
*
List of Virginia state forests
*
List of Virginia state parks
References
External links
Virginia Department of Forestry: Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest
{{Protected areas of Virginia
Protected areas of Appomattox County, Virginia
Protected areas of Buckingham County, Virginia
Virginia state forests
Protected areas established in 1954
1954 establishments in Virginia