Brendan T facts for kids
The Brendan T. Byrne State Forest is a large protected area in New Jersey. It used to be called the Lebanon State Forest. This forest covers about 37,242 acres (139 square kilometers). You can find it in the famous New Jersey Pine Barrens. The forest stretches across parts of Burlington and Ocean Counties.
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Discovering Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
The Brendan T. Byrne State Forest is the second biggest state forest in New Jersey. Only Wharton State Forest is larger. It offers many fun activities for visitors. You can explore over 25 miles (40 kilometers) of hiking trails. There is also a special area for camping. The New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry takes care of the park.
The forest was first named after the Lebanon Glassworks. This was a glass factory that operated there in the 1850s and 1860s. In 2004, the park was renamed to honor Brendan Byrne. He was the governor of New Jersey from 1974 to 1982. Governor Byrne was very important in protecting the Pinelands. He signed the Pinelands Protection Act in 1979. This law helped save thousands of acres in southern New Jersey. The park was renamed for him to celebrate 25 years of this important law.
Unique Nature of the Forest
This forest is part of a special natural area called the Atlantic coastal pine barrens. It includes a unique place called the Cedar Swamp Natural Area. This area is about 735 acres (3 square kilometers) in size. Here, you can find different types of forests. There are areas with pine and oak trees. You can also see pitch pine trees in lower, wetter spots. A special type of tree, the Atlantic white cedar, grows in swampy areas. This Natural Area helps protect rare plants. One example is the threatened Swamp pink flower. Many other endangered plant species also live here.
Exploring the Trails
The Brendan T. Byrne State Forest has many trails for different activities. The Mount Misery Trail is great for walking and mountain biking. If you use a wheelchair, the Cranberry Trail is accessible. The famous Batona Trail is nearly 50 miles (80 kilometers) long. It's perfect for hiking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. This long trail connects Brendan T. Byrne, Wharton, and Bass River State Forests.
There are also shorter trails for a quick walk. A two-mile (3.2 kilometer) loop starts at the forest office. Another one-mile (1.6 kilometer) loop is found at Pakim Pond. You can even combine different trails with the Batona Trail. This allows for longer day hikes of 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) or 14 miles (23 kilometers).
Blueberry History at Whitesbog Village
Inside the forest, you'll find Whitesbog Village. This is a historic village that was once a busy "company town." It was started in the 1870s by Joseph J. White. Whitesbog Village became one of the biggest cranberry and blueberry farms in New Jersey. It was very active through the mid-20th century.
Something very important happened here. The cultivated blueberry, which is the kind we usually eat, was developed at Whitesbog. It's a mix of the native Vaccinium caesariense blueberry. Elizabeth Coleman White and Frank Coville worked together to create and sell this new type of blueberry. Whitesbog Village shows how farming has changed in New Jersey over time. Today, a group called the Whitesbog Preservation Trust is working to restore this historic site.
