Madison’s forests
Andy Thompson
Apr 13, 2010
I’ve been up to the Landmark Forest on James Madison’s Montpelier estate. It’s an amazing place full of old-growth hardwoods. This looks like a really neat addition to the estate. Certainly worth a trip.
CONSERVATIONIST AND FORMER U.S. SENATOR JOHN WARNER TO OPEN NEW TRAIL
New James Madison’s Montpelier Trail to Educate Future Generations about Sustainable Forestry Management
ORANGE — James Madison’s Montpelier will open its new Demonstration Forest Trail to visitors on Saturday, April 17, 2010. Former U.S. Senator John Warner will speak at the 5:30 p.m. opening ceremony, on the back lawn of the mansion. Children can enjoy activities in the Hands-On Tent, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Guided Demonstration Forest tours will run from 12 noon¬–4:00 p.m. A reception and barbeque dinner will follow the ceremony. The activities, tours, opening ceremony, and reception are included with Montpelier’s standard admission prices. Dinner may be purchased for $25 for adults and $10 for children 14 and under. After event, the Montpelier Demonstration Forest Trail will be open to the public daily, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (April through October) and 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (November through March).
“James Madison was ahead of his time in his belief in forest conservancy,” said Christian Cotz, manager of student and family programs at James Madison’s Montpelier. “Madison and Montpelier’s subsequent owners left a tremendous legacy in their careful management of this forest. As the steward of this precious natural resource, it is our responsibility to take the next step to use this forest as a tool to teach future generations about responsible stewardship and sustainability.”
The Montpelier Demonstration Forest is an outdoor exhibit that will show students and landowners the best ways to manage a healthy, sustainable forest. The Montpelier Demonstration Forest Trail extends from the James Madison Landmark Forest as a one-mile loop. Visitors will observe forestry management techniques at four demonstration stations along the trail.
The James Madison Landmark Forest is a 200-acre old-growth forest that sits on an easement held by the Nature Conservancy. The U.S. Department of the Interior designated the Forest a National Natural Landmark in 1987.
John Warner served in the United States Navy during World War II and the United States Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. Warner was an assistant United States attorney, Undersecretary of the United States Navy, and Secretary of the United States Navy. He also served five terms in the United States Senate. Warner supported several measures aimed at conserving natural resources. The National Wildlife Federation named him its 2009 Conservationist of the Year for his efforts. Warner is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and the University of Virginia Law School.
James Madison’s Montpelier
Montpelier is the lifelong home of James Madison, Father of the Constitution, architect of the Bill of Rights, and president of the United States. Now that the home’s recent $25 million architectural restoration is complete, visitors can see the progress of “A Presidential Detective Story: Rediscovering the Furnishings and Décor of James and Dolley Madison” through daily guided tours. They can also participate in hands-on activities and archaeology; leisurely stroll the garden and forests; and take in the galleries and many other attractions on the estate’s 2,650 acres. Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Montpelier is located in the heart of Virginia’s wine country on Route 20, four miles south of Orange, Va. Montpelier is a National Trust Historic Site. To learn more, visit http://www.montpelier.org.
