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Lancaster, Virginia, County’s Chilton Woods became
the first (and so far the only) state forest in
the Northern Neck in 2000, when Mrs. Catherine B.
Chilton deeded the 397 acre tract to the Virginia
Department of Forestry — preserving it as open space.
After taking possession of the property in 1954,
the Chilton family managed it for income. With
guidance from professional foresters, they cut
only mature trees, and were quick to reforest
the land with pines. The family was also drawn
to the beauty of the land – leading eventually
to their decision to preserve it intact as a
state forest.
Mrs. Chilton and her husband were pioneers in
land stewardship. She donated a seven acre
easement in the Lancaster Courthouse historic
district behind the old jail so that the land
would be open into perpetuity. Located adjacent
to the Mary Ball Washington Museum, the land is
used for historic reenactments.
While primarily loblolly pine, what is today the
Chilton State Forest also contains mixed stands
of pine and hardwoods such as southern red oak,
white oak, black oak, tulip poplar, sweet gum
and red maple.
It is home to various species of wildlife,
including pink lady slippers (typically at their
peak the first week in May) and a rare
wildflower, the showy orchid.
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