Woodlands

Hillside Forest

About 5% of our property consists of hillside forests as pictured here. The hills are located on the western side of our property and constitute the historic western bank of the East Fork River. The trees and plants that grow on hillsides. In addition to providing a different ecosystem and visual backdrop for our prairie areas, the wooded hillside provide habitat for a diverse variety of birds and animals. These hillsides have been taken over in some places by honeysuckle.

Our volunteers are currently working to implement a long range management plan to remove these invasive species and replace them with native understory trees such as dogwood and red bud trees.

Streamside Forest

Valley View has about 35 acres of wooded streamside forest shown above. These thick woods boarder the East Fork River and are lined with deer trails and walking trails that lead from our Prairie to the East Fork. These woods provide habitat to reptiles, amphibians and a broad variety of birds and animals. Among other animals, these woods have been home to a family of beavers that have cut down trees as big as 24 inches in diameter.

Follow the link below to learn more about the importance of streamside forests such as those on our property to removing contaminants from runoff and river waters and converting them to important nutrients in the soils and trees

Historic Trees

This historic tree is located just off the Valley View property. This massive sycamore tree has a trunk that measures more than 6.5 feet in diameter and has a canopy that is nearly 150 feet across. It is believed to be 400 to 600 years old. It now sits behind Pattison Elementary School. The Craver and Laudeman family farm property line ran near the tree and these families marveled, played and gathered at the tree for generations.

When Pattison Elementary was being built, these families and Valley View representatives brought the tree to the attention of the school board. as Initial plans called for the tree to be cut down to make way for a parking lot. The school board moved the building away from the tree. Scouts and other volunteers have since cleared the brush away from the tree so it could be used as a gathering place.