Land Stewardship Facts for Longwood

• Longwood’s natural areas, which surround the public gardens, make up just over 700 acres, approximately 500 acres of which are managed open land while the remaining acres have agricultural and other uses • The perimeter lands provide a buffer between the and neighboring properties; wildlife habitat and corridors along with air, water and soil resource protection; and facilities and utilities integral to operations • Agricultural products are grown on Longwood’s perimeter areas by a local farmer which includes sunflower seeds and rotated grain crops such as corn, soybean, and sorghum. These crops are processed and sold locally • Honey is produced on the over 30 hives on Longwood property by a local beekeeper, the bees collect nectar from flowers in the gardens and natural areas for honey production while providing the additional benefit of plant pollination

Land Stewardship Goals for Longwood’s Natural Areas

• Fostering diverse and balanced wildlife communities and populations • Emphasize the use of native plants, especially in natural areas • Directed and consistent monitoring and management • Conserve and enhance air, water and soil quality and quantity on the property • Education, outreach, research and interpretation • Promote land use strategies that take into account institutional needs, historic and aesthetic considerations, climatic variability and good land practice principles

Managed Natural Sites at Longwood

• : . Meadows provide habitat for birds and wildlife along with serving as the habitat for threatened and rare plant species

Page 1 of 2 . Regular management is required in the to prevent the invasion of woody plants. This includes practices such as burning, mowing and monitoring • Woodlands: . A healthy woodland has a canopy layer, an understory layer, a shrub layer and an herbaceous layer along with a healthy soil structure and biota . The dominant canopy species in Longwood’s successional woodlands is often tulip poplar along with various species of beech, maples and . A healthy forest system supports wildlife habitat and increases along with improving overall air, soil, water and the quality of human life • Wetlands: . Wetlands are areas that stay wet for a minimum of two consecutive weeks per year, with hydric soils and a predominance of wetland adapted plant species which are dependent on that environment . They benefit people and the environment by cleaning storm water run- off, minimize flooding, and host a diversity of flora and fauna

New Meadow Garden

• Expanded the meadow landscape from 40 to 86 acres • New trails, bridges, learning pavilions, and a restored Webb Farmhouse with interpretive galleries about the landscape • Close to 5 miles of walking trails with new “sweeps” of native wildflower and successional forest plantings to introduce variety and color to the landscape each season • A wheelchair accessible path to see beautiful vistas • Opening Summer 2014

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