Celebrating Anniversaries in the Bluegrass State
by Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager, Brian Kane
Kentucky, sometimes called the Bluegrass State, is home to six of OGFN’s Network Forests, and three of them celebrate their anniversary this spring.
Kentucky distinguishes itself by having six geographic regions, that includes its well known Bluegrass region, where so many horses run, and its five others include the Pennyrile region (north-central Kentucky), named for the pennyroyal. The pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) is a wild mint plant that is profuse in the region, and it has morphed to “Pennyrile” in the geographical naming.
Three of OGFN’s seven forests grow in the Pennyrile and two celebrate their 10th year in the Old-Growth Forest Network.
Kentucky has an enormous amount of subsurface coal, and so its Eastern Coalfield region is named, and is home to another OGFN Network Forest The Coalfield is 10,500 square miles, equal to the entire state of Massachusetts!
With close to 50% of the state in forest land, we hope to continue to recognize – and ensure the protection – of Kentucky’s most aged forests so that all future generations will enjoy their presence, share their many life-giving benefits and understand their ecological significance.
Now a few highlights about the three birthday forests:
Vernon Douglas State Nature Preserve - Pennyrile region
Vernon-Douglas State Nature Preserve is located within a rugged, steep, forested section of Hardin County. This 730-acre preserve protects one of the most mature second-growth forests in the Knobs physiographic region and the species include stands of sugar maple, American beech and tulip poplar. A trail system passes through the valley bottom to the dry ridges above Hall Hollow. Owned by one family from the early 1900's until the 1970's when it became an Audubon Sanctuary, it is protected in perpetuity as a state nature preserve.
Brigadoon State Nature Preserve - Pennyrile region
In Barren County, Brigadoon State Nature Preserve’s 184 acres lie adjacent to the Barren River Reservoir. The rich woodlands contain an impressive array of spring wildflowers including several species that are considered rare or uncommon. The preserve provides a habitat for many resident and migratory birds. Brigadoon features mature American beech, maple and tulip poplar forest. Owned by the Renfro family from the late 1700's until 1960, then owned by one family until acquired as a nature preserve. The forest has never been commercially logged.
Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve – Eastern Coalfield region
Blanton Forest is a 3,510-acre preserve; approximately 2,000 acres are old growth, making it the largest such forest remaining in Kentucky. An additional 2,000 acres of forest buffer land is owned and managed by Kentucky Natural Lands Trust. The oldest known tree in the Harlan County preserve is a 338 year old chestnut oak. Blanton Forest has a diverse forest canopy with tree species such as sugar maple, tulip poplar, various oaks, hemlocks, American beech and several magnolias. The preserve has several unique natural communities including mountaintop wetlands known as acid seeps and mixed-mesophytic deciduous forest.
