Francis Beidler Forest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Francis Beidler Forest |
|
|---|---|
Cypress knees from the Beidler Forest.
|
|
 Francis Beidler Forest
Location in South Carolina
|
|
| Location | South-central South Carolina |
| Area | 16,000 acres (6,500 ha) |
| Governing body | National Audubon Society |
| Designated: | 30 May 2008 |
| Reference #: | 1773 |
| Designated: | 1979 |
The Francis Beidler Forest is a special wildlife sanctuary in South Carolina, United States. It is managed by the National Audubon Society. This amazing forest is part of the Four Holes Swamp, which is a system of blackwater creeks.
The forest covers over 16,000 acres (about 65 square kilometers). Most of it is made up of bald cypress and tupelo gum trees. About 1,800 acres (7.3 km²) of this area is an old-growth forest. This means the trees have never been cut down by people. It is the largest untouched group of these trees in the world. Some trees are even more than 1,000 years old!
The Francis Beidler Forest is a favorite spot for birdwatchers. It is also used by schools for important science projects. On May 30, 2008, the forest was named a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. This means it's a very important wetland globally. It was also named a National Natural Landmark in 1979.
History of the Forest
The land that makes up the Francis Beidler Forest was bought by a man named Francis Beidler in the 1890s. After he passed away in 1924, his family took care of the land.
Later, the National Audubon Society worked hard to buy the land. They raised money to protect this special forest. They also built a boardwalk for visitors and bought more land from nearby farmers to make sure people could easily get to the forest. In 2003, the Audubon Society announced they had bought an extra 909 acres of land. This helped to make the preserve even bigger.
What You Can Do There
The Francis Beidler Forest has a great environmental education center. Here, you can learn all about the swamp and its wildlife. There's also a 1.75 mile (about 2.8 km) long boardwalk trail. This trail goes right through the oldest part of the swamp. It was built in 1977.
You can even download a free app for your phone or iPod from the iTunes Store. This app gives you more information and pictures than the printed guide. It also lists the plants and animals you might see from the boardwalk. When the water levels are high, you can even go canoeing in the swamp with a guide. This gives you a totally different view as you paddle among the shallow channels and cypress knees.
Where to Find It
The Francis Beidler Forest is located at 336 Sanctuary Road, Harleyville, South Carolina 29448.
