Monthly Nature Walks

The Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board hosts a series of monthly nature walks the last Sunday of each month at the Chapman DeMary Trail. Many of the walks this year are jointly hosted by the Purcellville Arts Council and the Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee. These free walks led by local experts start at 1 p.m. 

COLLECT ACORNS AND NUTS FOR THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND BRING THEM TO THE CHAPMAN DEMARY TRAIL ON SEPTEMBER 24!

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. 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 details.

• General information about the acorn and nut collection from the Virginia Department of Forestry
• How to identify acorns and nuts that are needed
• Details about how to collect and store acorns and nuts

Register online to attend!

Nature journals will be provided at the event, and those who have received nature journals at previous walks are encouraged to bring them back to get a sticker. Participants with six or more stickers from the monthly nature walks through November 2023 will get a prize. Bringing the journal to each nature walk encourages participants to observe, write, draw, and capture the seasonal changes at the Chapman DeMary Trail. 

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.