Chilton Woods State Forest
Encyclopedia
Chilton Woods State Forest is a Virginia
state forest located on the Northern Neck
in Lancaster County
, near the town of Warsaw
. The land was turned over to state control in July 2000 by Mrs. Catherine B. Chilton; the Virginia Department of Forestry
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. Today the land is used for timber
harvesting and wildlife management, as well as hiking and birdwatching
. It is part of the Rappahannock River
watershed
, with streams emptying into that river's tributaries, Lancaster Creek and the Corrotoman River
. Most of the forest's trees are loblolly pine
, with areas of mixed pine and hardwood
. The showy orchis and pink Lady's Slipper
s may be seen there as well.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
state forest located on the Northern Neck
Northern Neck
The Northern Neck is the northernmost of three peninsulas on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This peninsula is bounded by the Potomac River on the north and the Rappahannock River on the south. It encompasses the following Virginia counties: Lancaster,...
in Lancaster County
Lancaster County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,567 people, 5,004 households, and 3,412 families residing in the county. The population density was 87 people per square mile . There were 6,498 housing units at an average density of 49 per square mile...
, near the town of Warsaw
Warsaw, Virginia
Warsaw is the county seat of Richmond County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,375 at the 2000 census.-History:The original name of the town was Richmond Courthouse. In 1830 the town's named changed to Warsaw...
. The land was turned over to state control in July 2000 by Mrs. Catherine B. Chilton; the Virginia Department of Forestry
Virginia Department of Forestry
The Virginia Department of Forestry is the department of the government of Virginia responsible for the maintenance and oversight of Virginia state forests....
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. Today the land is used for timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
harvesting and wildlife management, as well as hiking and birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
. It is part of the Rappahannock River
Rappahannock River
The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length. It traverses the entire northern part of the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, across the Piedmont, to the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Potomac River.An important river in American...
watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
, with streams emptying into that river's tributaries, Lancaster Creek and the Corrotoman River
Corrotoman River
The Corrotoman River is a small river on the northern banks of the Rappahannock River in Virginia, United States. The Corrotoman River is about 8 miles from the mouth of the Rappahannock River, which drains into the Chesapeake Bay. The Corrotoman River cuts into the Northern Neck; a region of...
. Most of the forest's trees are loblolly pine
Loblolly Pine
Pinus taeda is one of several pines native to the Southeastern United States, from central Texas east to Florida, and north to Delaware. It is particularly dominant in the eastern half of North Carolina, where there are huge expanses consisting solely of Loblolly Pine trees...
, with areas of mixed pine and hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
. The showy orchis and pink Lady's Slipper
Lady's Slipper
Lady's slipper orchids, lady slipper orchids or slipper orchids are the orchids in the subfamily Cypripedioidea, which includes the genera Cypripedium, Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and Selenipedium...
s may be seen there as well.