PURCELLVILLE, Va., September 18, 2023 — Join the Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Virginia Department of Forestry at the Chapman DeMary Trail on Sunday, September 24 at 1 p.m. Register online to attend. Before leading a walk about tree identification, the forester will be collecting the acorns and nuts you bring with you. Each year, the Virginia Department of Forestry collects a variety of species of acorns and nuts to be planted at its Augusta Nursery to grow into tree seedlings that will become the forests of tomorrow. These seeds will produce next year’s hardwood seedling crop, which will be sold to Virginia’s forestland owners. You can help by collecting and donating acorns and nuts! The acorn and nut collection is a great activity for both children and adults and provides an opportunity to learn more about Virginia trees.
There are specific guidelines about how and what to collect. Please use the links below for the details.
Nature journals and pencils will be provided to attendees, courtesy of the Purcellville Arts Council. Those who already received journaling supplies at previous events at the Chapman DeMary Trail are encouraged to bring their journals to observe, write, draw, and capture the seasonal changes as well as to get a sticker. Participants with six or more stickers from the monthly nature walks through November 2023 will get a prize.
The Chapman DeMary Trail is a 10-acre area considered to be the last stand of old-growth forest in the Town of Purcellville. It runs along the South Fork Catoctin Creek, part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The area is open to the public for environmental recreation, exploration, and education. The Town of Purcellville holds the conservation easement for this privately-owned property. The entrance and parking for the Chapman DeMary Trail is behind the building at 205 East Hirst Road in Purcellville.
Learn more and register online on the Monthly Nature Walks page in the Events and Activities section of the Town of Purcellville’s website at www.PurcellvilleVa.gov.
The Town of Purcellville, Virginia
“Purcellville-your small Town, where history and progress intersect and people prosper,” is an award-winning town of approximately 10,000 residents located in Loudoun County, approximately 50 miles west of Washington, DC. Having received the 2021 Virginia Municipal League Innovation Award for Environmental Sustainability and in years past, the prestigious Siemens Sustainability Award for Small Communities, Purcellville continues to be honored for innovation and green initiatives. The Town most recently received the Tree City USA Award for the 14th consecutive year. The Town was reaffirmed as a AAA rated community by S&P Global Ratings, the highest credit rating possible, and was ranked “Safest City” in Virginia in 2020. Once a stop along the W&OD rail line, which has been converted to a multi-use trail from Alexandria, VA to Purcellville, the Town has maintained its historic old-town feel through the restoration and maintenance of its many downtown structures, reflecting the Victorian architecture popular during the early 1900s. Today, Purcellville is the economic hub of western Loudoun County and a popular weekend destination for antiquing, equestrian activities, farmer’s markets, wineries, breweries, distilleries and restaurants. More info at www.purcellvilleva.gov.
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