We are creating a thriving forest that provides maximum wildlife habitat, as well as clean air and water.
We are repairing Woodend’s forest that has been damaged by years of deer over-browsing. For the first time in decades, new tree seedlings are thriving and will be ready to replace the mature trees as they age and die.
The completion of a deer exclusion fence in 2017 has allowed native tree seedlings to grow for the first time in decades. These sprouts on the forest floor will become the future forest. (Hickory, Sassafrass, Elm)
We are removing exotic shrubs like bush honeysuckle to make room for plants that support local wildlife.
We are making room for native shrubs like Arrowwood Viburnum that have co-evolved with the wildlife of our region. Native plants provide food, nesting and resting places for wildlife – and they are beautiful too!
Native plants form the foundation of a healthy forest food web by hosting insects like this Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar. Caterpillars serve as food for other insects, birds, small mammals, and amphibians.
Bird species like the wood thrush need native understory plants for nesting and an abundance of insects to feed their young. We hope to attract a nesting pair of wood thrushes to a restored Woodend.
Oaks alone support 534 species of moths and butterflies making homes for eggs and cocoons, providing food for caterpillars, and as resting and mating places for adults.
In a healthy forest, complex relationships happen at every level. Bloodroot blooms early on the forest floor to take advantage of spring sunshine before the trees leaf out. Bloodroot provides an early food source for bees and ants.
Join NF volunteers who are surveying the return of forest vegetation to track progress and guide restoration efforts.
Come visit and watch how the forest grows as we make progress toward a vision of Woodend as an urban oasis of nature for all people and all wildlife.
Visit Education page to sign up for nature classes and field trips.
“It’s exciting to see new native plant specifies appearing on the property. Educating children about the importance of biodiversity, food chains, and native flora and fauna becomes much easier when you are able to point them out.”
– Frank
“My first experience volunteering at Woodend involved surveying and nurturing the Restored Meadow. I quickly learned to identify many native plant species that were thriving in the meadow and also how much fun it was to volunteer with other nature loving folks.”
– Maura
“There is nothing like hands-on experience removing invasive plants and replacing them with native species. Through that process, I have learned more about each plant’s value and impact on improvement of the vibrancy and resilience of the plant and animal diversity at Woodend”
– Gregg
“I can not thank you all enough for providing fulfilling tangible projects – that saw the full lifecycle of restoration from invasive removal to planting – for our crews to really understand the impact of their work in the watershed.”
– Arielle
Visit Woodend Sanctuary
8940 Jones Mill Road Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Trails are open daily from dawn to dusk Admission is free
If you are in Northern Virginia, you also can visit our Rust Sanctuary