Chilton Woods State Forest is a
state forest
A state forest or national forest is a forest that is administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign or federated state, or territory.
Background
The precise application of the terms vary by jurisdiction. For example:
* In Australia, a ...
located on the
Northern Neck
The Northern Neck is the northernmost of three peninsulas (traditionally called "necks" in Virginia) on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in the Commonwealth of Virginia (along with the Middle Peninsula and the Virginia Peninsula). The P ...
in
Lancaster County,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
, near the town of
Warsaw
Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...
.
History
Chilton Woods State Forest was formed in July 2000 after Catherine B. Chilton turned the land over to state control; the
Virginia Department of Forestry
The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) was established in 1914 to prevent and suppress forest fires and reforest bare lands. Since its inception, the agency has grown and evolved to encompass other protection and management duties:
*Protecting ...
had aided her and her husband when they took control of the property in 1954. Upon his death in 1973, Mr. Chilton's will left the land to his wife, with the stipulation that she turn it over to the Commonwealth upon her death.
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Description
The forest includes Lancaster Creek and the Corrotoman River, both of which are tributaries of the Rappahannock River
The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 1, 2011 It traverses the entir ...
. Most of the forest's trees are loblolly pine
''Pinus taeda'', commonly known as loblolly pine, is one of several pines native to the Southeastern United States, from East Texas to Florida, and north to southern New Jersey. The wood industry classifies the species as a southern yellow pine. ...
, with areas of mixed pine and hardwoods. Herbaceous plants within the forest include the showy orchis and pink lady's slipper. Management of the forest focuses on timber production and enhancement of wildlife habitat, in addition to providing space for public recreation such as hiking and birdwatching.[
]
Public use and access
The forest is open to the public for horseback riding and hiking; hunting is limited to archery and black powder rifle use only. Camping and motorized vehicles are prohibited.[ Some uses may require visitors to possess a valid State Forest Use Permit.]
See also
* List of Virginia state forests
The Virginia state forest system includes 26 state-managed forests covering a total of . They are managed by the Virginia Department of Forestry.
The system was created to manage and maintain forests for wildlife, timber production, recreation, ...
References
External links
Virginia Department of Forestry: Chilton Woods State Forest
Virginia state forests
Protected areas of Lancaster County, Virginia
Protected areas established in 2000
2000 establishments in Virginia
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