PHOTO : JIM HANNA photography
Loudoun ’ s Woodland Wonder
Loudoun County is blessed with thousands of acres of rich forests . While much of its forested land is along Loudoun ’ s mountains , including the Blue Ridge , Short Hill , Catoctin , and Bull Run Mountains , abundant forests can also be found throughout the county on old farms , along country lanes , and in parks , such the Chapman DeMary Trail , or the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship .
Loudoun ’ s GIS website , logis . loudoun . gov / weblogis is easy to use and shows the locations for all forested land in Loudoun , totaling approximately 127,00 acres . These forests ‚ covering nearly 38 percent of Loudoun , are one of its crown jewels .
by Benedict lenhart
They are also a key resource for Loudoun ’ s animal and human residents , providing great wildlife habitat for bear , turkey , deer , fox , bobcat and squirrels , to name a few , along with prime locations for hikers , birder watchers , animal lovers , or those simply seeking to enjoy the peace and wonder offered by the forest .
While almost none of today ’ s forests in Loudoun are virgin , still there are many nice stands of 100 to 150 year old trees , including many large oaks , poplars , maples , walnuts , cherries and hickories . And a few giant trees still be found , some dating back nearly 400 years . A great resource is the Loudoun Big Tree Reg-
26 wander I fall • winter 2021