Antioch Pines Natural Area Preserve

SITE DESCRIPTION:
On the east side of the Blackwater River near the village of Zuni lies one of Virginia's finest old growth loblolly pine and turkey oak woodlands. The pines are impressive in stature, especially considering that they inhabit dry sandy soils. The Pine/Scrub Oak Sandhill community supports a number of plant species that are rare in Virginia including Plukenet's flatsedge, sandy-woods chaffhead and viperina. The wet swales between the sandhills create ecotones that are home to a great diversity of wildflowers. Among many others there can be found orchids, trilliums, bellworts and lilies. These herbaceous plants are components of a woodland community that are dependent on frequent fires.

Also located on this preserve are two longleaf pine trees that represent some of the last few native longleaf left in Virginia. These two trees (both over 100 years old) are being used in a breeding program by the Virginia Department of Forestry in an effort to restore native longleaf pine to its former range in Virginia.

Antioch Pines is contiguous with Old Dominion University's Blackwater Ecological Preserve, which lies to the south.

VISITATION:
This preserve has no public access facilities.

Also, part or all of the preserve may be periodically closed for resource protection or prescribed burning activities. Please call before visiting.

Locality

Isle of Wight

Owner

DCR

Preserve Size

925 acres

Access

By arrangement with Steward.

CONTACT INFO

For additional information or to arrange a visit, contact:

Darren Loomis, SE Regional Steward
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Division of Natural Heritage
Suffolk, VA
(757) 925-2318.