Belt Woods

Belt Woods is a nature reserve in Prince George's County, Maryland, U.S., containing the "South Woods", a 43-acre (170,000 m2) woodland which constitutes one of the last stands of old growth hardwood forest on the Atlantic coastal plain. It is a mere 8 miles (13 km) east of Washington, D.C. Many of its white oaks and tulip poplars are more than three feet in diameter and soar more than 100 feet (30 m) before branching. The "South Woods" were designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974. In 1994, St. Barnabas' Episcopal Church (Leeland, Maryland) sold 109 acres containing the oldest trees to the state of Maryland as a nature preserve for $628,000 Some 110 acres (0.45 km2) at the site are designated a Natural Environment Area (NEA) and another 515 acres (2.08 km2) are designated a Heritage Conservation Fund (HCF) site. Thus 625 acres (2.53 km2) are protected in total. Within this area, the Maryland General Assembly has designated 610 acres (2.5 km2) - 109 acres (0.44 km2) within the NEA and 501 acres (2.03 km2) within the HCF - as a special Maryland Wildland.