Blue Ridge School has renewed its Level I Accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum. The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program is the only global initiative to officially recognize arboreta at various levels of development, capacity, and professionalism. Blue Ridge School is also recognized as an accredited arboretum in the Morton Register of Arboreta, a database of the world’s arboreta and gardens dedicated to woody plants.
The School’s 750 acre-campus in the foothills of Shenandoah National Park has a wide variety of native trees, including stands of oak, hickory, sycamore, maple, beech, and pine. Access to the School’s collection is available through nearly 20 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, which are open to the public. The Interpretive Trail along Chesley Creek is perfect for tree lovers as it has signage pointing out many different species in a relatively short walk.
Blue Ridge School’s campus was once the site of many homesteads that included orchards, terraced fields, and both log and frame houses. Evidence of historical land use can be seen through abrupt changes in forest types and the remaining stone walls, chimneys, and spring boxes. One of the most majestic trees on campus is the towering St. George Poplar, which visitors can see on the Deane’s Loop trail.
Cory Woods, Blue Ridge School’s Director for Environmental Resources, says, “Land stewardship provides a clear picture of native ecosystems. Conservation efforts also provide the opportunity for teaching wise management of natural resources, in practice, to our students. Recognition as an arboretum is a testament to the Blue Ridge School’s efforts to preserve the wildlife habitat and watershed protection provided on the mountain property as well as the park-like setting of the Front Lawn framed by oaks that are well over a hundred years.”
ArbNet is an international community of arboreta that works to raise professional standards through the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program. The accreditation program, sponsored and coordinated by The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, in cooperation with American Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International, is the only global initiative to officially recognize arboreta based on a set of professional standards. The program offers four levels of accreditation, recognizing arboreta of various degrees of development, capacity and professionalism.
