Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
LOCALITY |
OWNER |
ACRES |
ACCESS |
NEWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giles & Bland | DCR | 1,596 | By Arrangement with Steward |
SITE DESCRIPTION:
Chestnut Ridge Natural Area Preserve consists of 1,596 acres located in Giles and Bland counties, near the West Virginia border. The preserve protects outstanding examples of Virginia's natural communities including an old-growth Central Appalachian Dry-Mesic Chestnut Oak - Northern Red Oak Forest. Dominated by chestnut oak (Quercus montana) and northern red oak (Quercus rubra), one group of individual trees averages nearly 180 years old, having been spared from harvest over the years due to their remote locations on inaccessible, steep slopes.
As the preserve name implies, American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was once a significant component of the forest here. Ample evidence of chestnut's former prevalence remains in the form of decaying fallen trees, sprouting stumps and scattered young chestnut trees. Now decimated range-wide by Chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica), American chestnut may have formerly accounted for nearly 25% of trees across the Appalachian region (Lutts 2004).
The preserve was established in 2006 with the encouragement of the 500 Year Forest Foundation, a grant from the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation and a partial gift from the landowners, Bob and Darlinda Gilvary. The recent preserve expansion and purchase by DCR was made possible with a grant from the Forest CORE Fund, administered by Virginia Outdoors Foundation.
VISITATION:
This preserve has no public access facilities. Part or all of the preserve may be periodically closed for prescribed burning or other resource management activities. Please call before visiting.
CONTACT:
