Meltzer Woods consists of of

old-growth forest An old-growth forestalso termed primary forest, virgin forest, late seral forest, primeval forest, or first-growth forestis a forest that has attained great age without significant disturbance, and thereby exhibits unique ecological featur ...

located in Central Indiana. The woods have been included in Indiana's Classified Forest Program since 1928. They are currently protected by the Meltzer family in partnership with the Central Indiana Land Trust. The woods were designated a National Natural Landmark in 1973.

History

* 1857 - John Frederick Meltzer purchases the first of farm land * 1920 - Brady Meltzer (John's son) and Philip Meltzer (grandson) make additional purchases. The farm now totals . * 1928 - of the Meltzer farm that were never cleared are added to Indiana's Classified Forest Program * 1973 - Designated a National Natural Landmark

Threats

Purple winter creeper (

Euonymus fortunei ''Euonymus fortunei'', the spindle, Fortune's spindle, winter creeper or wintercreeper, is a species of flowering plant in the family Celastraceae, native to east Asia, including China, Korea, the Philippines and Japan. It is named after the Scot ...

) and

garlic mustard ''Alliaria petiolata'', or garlic mustard, is a biennial flowering plant in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). It is native to Europe, western and central Asia, north-western Africa, Morocco, Iberia and the British Isles, north to northern Sc ...

(Alliaria petiolata) currently threaten the forest. It is expected to take thousands of hours of labor to control these invasive species.

References

External links

"Working with Giants: Meltzer Woods"

Central Indiana Land Trust
National Natural Landmarks in Indiana Protected areas of Shelby County, Indiana Forests of Indiana {{Indiana-protected-area-stub