Chub Sandhill Natural Area Preserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chub Sandhill Natural Area Preserve |
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 Chub Sandhill Natural Area Preserve
Location in Virginia
Chub Sandhill Natural Area Preserve
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sussex County, Virginia |
| Nearest city | Norfolk |
| Area | 1,066 acres (4.31 km2) |
| Governing body | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |
Chub Sandhill Natural Area Preserve is a special natural area in Sussex County, Virginia. It covers about 1,066 acres (4.31 km2) of land. This preserve protects unique sandy hills and wet areas along the Nottoway River. It is a home for rare plants and helps keep nature healthy.
Contents
Discovering Chub Sandhill Preserve
Chub Sandhill Natural Area Preserve is a special place in Sussex County, Virginia. It is part of the Virginia Natural Area Preserve System. This system protects important natural lands across the state. The preserve is known for its low sandhills. These are small hills made of sand. It also has wet areas called wetlands. These wetlands are found along the Nottoway River.
What Makes Chub Sandhill Special?
Many of the original plants in this area have disappeared over time. But Chub Sandhill Preserve still protects some rare ones. You can find plants like queen's delight and golden puccoon here. Another special plant is the hoary scurf-pea. These plants are important parts of the local ecosystem.
Rare Trees and Plants
A tree called the sand post oak is also found in the woods. This type of oak tree is very rare in Virginia. The preserve is also home to many native legumes. Legumes are a type of plant that includes peas and beans. They help keep the soil healthy.
How the Preserve is Cared For
For a long time, natural fires helped keep the plants healthy here. These fires were common in areas with longleaf pine trees. These types of forests are usually found further south. To keep the preserve's unique plants safe, people now use controlled fires.
Using Controlled Burns
Since 1998, park managers have used prescribed burning. This means they carefully set small fires on purpose. These fires help new plants grow and clear out old, dead plants. This method helps the special plants of the preserve thrive.
Bringing Back Longleaf Pines
In 2007, efforts began to bring back longleaf pine trees. These trees are very important for this type of ecosystem. They are replacing old fields and loblolly pine plantations. The young trees used for this project come from another Virginia preserve. They are collected from native stands at the South Quay Sandhills Natural Area Preserve.
Visiting Chub Sandhill Preserve
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation owns and takes care of the preserve. You can visit Chub Sandhill during daylight hours. There are special areas for visitors. These include a parking area and trails. There is also a platform where you can watch wildlife.
