Fitton Green Natural Area facts for kids

Fitton Green Natural Area is a big park in Benton County, Oregon, United States. It covers 308 acres, which is like 308 football fields! You can find it near the Marys River, about 4 miles north of Philomath. This special park first opened its doors in 2003. It's a great place to explore nature and see different kinds of plants and animals.

History

Fitton Green is named after Elsie Fitton Ross. She and her husband, Charles Ross, helped buy the land for the park. They worked with a group called the Greenbelt Land Trust. This trust helps protect important natural areas.

The first part of the park land was bought in 1988. The Rosses were very involved; they even started the Greenbelt Land Trust! Over the next ten years, more land was added. This helped the park grow to its current size. Today, the Greenbelt Land Trust works with Benton County to manage Fitton Green. They make sure the park stays a wild and beautiful place for everyone to enjoy.

Nature at Fitton Green

Fitton Green is located in the hills of the Central Oregon Coast Range. The park has many different types of forests and open spaces. You can find tall Douglas fir trees and mixed forests near rivers. There are also areas with oak woodlands and oak savanna, which are like grassy fields with scattered oak trees.

You might also see groves of Bigleaf maple trees. Some parts of the park have very old trees, called old-growth forest remnants. Other areas have managed conifer trees or tree plantations. A very special part of the park is its rare upland prairie. This prairie is home to an endangered butterfly called the Taylor's checkerspot butterfly. Protecting this area helps these special butterflies survive.