Friends of Guilford Woods
working to protect and build appreciation for Guilford Woods and Guilford Run
Guilford Woods is a ~15 acre forested area in the Anacostia River Watershed. It is located just southwest of the University of Maryland's College Park campus, near the borders of College Park, Hyattsville, College Heights Estates, and University Park. Within the woods are the headwaters of Guilford Run, a creek that ultimately flows into the Anacostia River and drains into the Chesapeake Bay. This natural area is currently owned primarily by the State of Maryland / University of Maryland.
Current threat to Guilford Woods!
Guilford Woods and Guilford Run headwaters are currently threatened by proposed development.
The University of Maryland and the Gilbane Development Company are moving forward with plans to deforest a large portion of this environmentally sensitive area for the construction of private townhomes and some graduate housing. There is broad support for providing affordable graduate housing and transit-oriented housing in the area, but this should be done in an environmentally and fiscally responsible way. For more information and to TAKE ACTION, visit: Save Guilford Woods
The University of Maryland and the Gilbane Development Company are moving forward with plans to deforest a large portion of this environmentally sensitive area for the construction of private townhomes and some graduate housing. There is broad support for providing affordable graduate housing and transit-oriented housing in the area, but this should be done in an environmentally and fiscally responsible way. For more information and to TAKE ACTION, visit: Save Guilford Woods
Learn more and get involved!Interested in learning more about Guilford Woods or our regular stewardship events? Sign up to be on our list or email us for more information at [email protected] |
Biodiversity of Guilford Woods
A great place to learn about the biodiversity of Guilford Woods and Guilford Run is iNaturalist: Guilford Woods natural area. This online biodiversity catalog is continually being updated with new observations. If you go to the woods, you can upload your own observations to help build knowledge of the species that live there!
Guilford Woods - a diverse and old remnant forest
Guilford Woods is an old remnant forest with a diverse assemblage of tree species, most of which are native. It includes some extremely large and old trees, some of which began their life around the time of the Civil War.
How many trees are in Guilford Woods?
There are on the order of ~100 trees/acre on this site (counting trees that are at least 5 inches diameter at breast height, or "dbh", a standard forestry measure). The estimate is that there are about 1,500 trees (5 inches dbh) in Guilford Woods. What tree species occur in Guilford Woods?
Guilford Woods includes a high diversity of tree species and is dominated by native trees. Most of the tree canopy consists of Red Maple, Sweetgum, and Tulip Tree. Learn more at: iNaturalist: Guilford Woods natural area. Trees and shrubs in this forest include, among others, the following:
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How old are the trees in Guilford Woods?
Guilford Woods is a healthy forest with trees of a broad range of ages. There are many young saplings, numerous young and middle aged trees (years to decades old), and also some extremely old trees. Some of the oldest trees in the woods are greater than 150 years old, dating back to around the time of the Civil War. Visiting these woods, you might come across some beautiful, majestic old trees, such as a ~90 year old sweet gum (established ca. 1928), a ~135 year old white oak (established ca. 1885), and several ~150 year old tulip trees (est. ca. late 1860's). Tree ages can be estimated based on their circumference. Next time you visit the woods, consider taking a tape measure with you to measure the circumference of some of the trees to help you appreciate their ages (you can use a web-based tree age calculator that takes into account the growth rate of the particular tree species). |
What kind of habitats and wildlife occur in Guilford Woods?
Guilford Woods provides diverse forest habitats that support many wildlife species. There is not only an extensive tree canopy in both floodplain and upland forest, but also a thick leaf layer, rich soils, dead and fallen trees, saturated soils, vernal pools, seeps, and small rivulets, as well as the main channel of Guilford Run. The woods are home to many bird species (including pileated woodpeckers, barred owls, red-shouldered hawks) and mammals (e.g., raccoons, deer, foxes).
Curious about what lives in Guilford Woods? Go to iNaturalist - Guilford Woods to see what people have found living here! Please share your own finds on iNaturalist as well, to expand knowledge about what lives here.
Guilford Woods provides diverse forest habitats that support many wildlife species. There is not only an extensive tree canopy in both floodplain and upland forest, but also a thick leaf layer, rich soils, dead and fallen trees, saturated soils, vernal pools, seeps, and small rivulets, as well as the main channel of Guilford Run. The woods are home to many bird species (including pileated woodpeckers, barred owls, red-shouldered hawks) and mammals (e.g., raccoons, deer, foxes).
Curious about what lives in Guilford Woods? Go to iNaturalist - Guilford Woods to see what people have found living here! Please share your own finds on iNaturalist as well, to expand knowledge about what lives here.
Guilford Run - a small headwater stream
Guilford Run is a small creek that ultimately flows into the Anacostia River and drains into the Chesapeake Bay. Headwater streams, like Guilford Run, have been heavily impacted in many parts of the country (EPA - Headwater Streams Studies) and have become rare in this area due to destruction for development.
What lives in Guilford Run?
This creek supports local forest wildlife and a diverse aquatic community, including fish, aquatic insects, crayfish, and other small invertebrates. A recent survey by a University of Maryland lab discovered a species of small carnivorous worm in Guilford Run that is new to science! |
Where does Guilford Run run?
Guilford Run begins as a series of small rivulets in Guilford Woods. These rivulets converge to form the main channel of Guilford Run, which flows east through Guilford Woods. It then flows through less natural environments - first along Guilford Drive (in the tree-lined median, between east and west bound lanes) and then underground through a series of man-made water conduits under the Calvert Hills neighborhood (Guilford Run used to run through that neighborhood but was buried around the 1960's). The creek flows under the CSX and Metro tracks and then emerges above ground again, though with man-made banks. It ultimately flows into the Northeast Branch (just south of the College Park airport), then into the Anacostia River, into the Potomac River, and ultimately into the Chesapeake Bay. Learn more about the watersheds Guilford Run is a part of here: Anacostia Watershed Society, Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Guilford Run begins as a series of small rivulets in Guilford Woods. These rivulets converge to form the main channel of Guilford Run, which flows east through Guilford Woods. It then flows through less natural environments - first along Guilford Drive (in the tree-lined median, between east and west bound lanes) and then underground through a series of man-made water conduits under the Calvert Hills neighborhood (Guilford Run used to run through that neighborhood but was buried around the 1960's). The creek flows under the CSX and Metro tracks and then emerges above ground again, though with man-made banks. It ultimately flows into the Northeast Branch (just south of the College Park airport), then into the Anacostia River, into the Potomac River, and ultimately into the Chesapeake Bay. Learn more about the watersheds Guilford Run is a part of here: Anacostia Watershed Society, Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Stream trash clean-ups
Streams in urban areas often accumulate trash, from either direct littering on site or from litter washing in to the stream during heavy rain events. Several groups carry out periodic trash clean-ups of Guilford Run and Guilford Forest, such as the Friends of Guilford Run (started by University of Maryland undergraduates), a UMD research lab, and local neighbors. Interested in getting involved? Consider signing up for a Guilford Run clean up during a Good Neighbor Day event (run jointly by UMD, the City of College Park, and M-NCPPC)!
Streams in urban areas often accumulate trash, from either direct littering on site or from litter washing in to the stream during heavy rain events. Several groups carry out periodic trash clean-ups of Guilford Run and Guilford Forest, such as the Friends of Guilford Run (started by University of Maryland undergraduates), a UMD research lab, and local neighbors. Interested in getting involved? Consider signing up for a Guilford Run clean up during a Good Neighbor Day event (run jointly by UMD, the City of College Park, and M-NCPPC)!
Topography
Guilford Woods has a highly varied topography for a site of this size. This topography supports diverse habitats including the rivulets and main channel of Guilford Run, floodplain forest, vernal pools, seeps, a glade, and upland forest.
Valuing and featuring Guilford Woods and Guilford Run
Guilford Woods and Guilford Run are beautiful natural features of this area and they have value well beyond the natural habitats they provide to wildlife.
tree canopy
Guilford Woods comprises about 15 acres of forest, including over 1,500 well established trees. The site represents very significant tree canopy for this area, providing benefits in terms of carbon sequestration, mitigation of heat island effects, water retention, and biodiversity. Tree canopy in this region has declined sharply over the past century and continues to decline, due largely to development (USDA Forest Service - Forests of Maryland / USDA Forest Service - Trends in Maryland's Forests / City of College Park - Tree Canopy Assessment / HyattsvilleWire - Article on Tree Canopy Loss / City of Hyattsville - Urban Tree Canopy Assessment and Change Analysis). Because of these substantial and ongoing declines, local municipalities throughout the region are implementing programs to preserve and protect tree canopy (City of College Park - Trees Canopy Enhancement Program, City of Takoma Park - Tree Care & Tree Canopy Goal / Town of University Park - Tree Reimbursement Program, City of Greenbelt - Urban Forest Master Plan). Retaining existing trees and mixed-age forests is key to efforts to slow tree loss and ultimately to increase tree canopy again. Forest preservation is vastly more effective than mitigation by planting, because it takes many decades to grow a forest.
Guilford Woods comprises about 15 acres of forest, including over 1,500 well established trees. The site represents very significant tree canopy for this area, providing benefits in terms of carbon sequestration, mitigation of heat island effects, water retention, and biodiversity. Tree canopy in this region has declined sharply over the past century and continues to decline, due largely to development (USDA Forest Service - Forests of Maryland / USDA Forest Service - Trends in Maryland's Forests / City of College Park - Tree Canopy Assessment / HyattsvilleWire - Article on Tree Canopy Loss / City of Hyattsville - Urban Tree Canopy Assessment and Change Analysis). Because of these substantial and ongoing declines, local municipalities throughout the region are implementing programs to preserve and protect tree canopy (City of College Park - Trees Canopy Enhancement Program, City of Takoma Park - Tree Care & Tree Canopy Goal / Town of University Park - Tree Reimbursement Program, City of Greenbelt - Urban Forest Master Plan). Retaining existing trees and mixed-age forests is key to efforts to slow tree loss and ultimately to increase tree canopy again. Forest preservation is vastly more effective than mitigation by planting, because it takes many decades to grow a forest.
stormwater management
Vegetation and soils have the capacity to absorb enormous volumes of water. For this reason, Guilford Woods and Guilford Run play an important role in limiting stormwater runoff and flooding. Much of the surrounding area has already been replaced with impervious surface, making this site especially valuable. With downstream communities experiencing increasingly severe and frequent flooding (see here, for example), exacerbated by impervious surfaces and climate change, the water absorbing role of Guilford Woods in stormwater management is becoming ever more important. |
nature accessible to many by walking, biking, and transit
Nature should be accessible to all - including those without a car. Guilford Woods is walking and biking distance for tens of thousands of people - including local residents of nearby neighborhoods, visitors to the area, and the large University of Maryland community including students, faculty, and staff. This area is also transit accessible, via metro, bus, and the coming Purple Line, making these woods very broadly accessible. Such accessible nature is becoming rare, is in growing demand, and is not easily re-established once destroyed - as such, Guilford Woods is a precious resource in this area. As the DC metropolitan area increases in density, pockets of real nature - like Guilford Woods - are valuable oases in which to enjoy, discover, and explore the outdoors. |
a proposed hiker-biker trail
The areas of Guilford Woods and Guilford Run are a natural path for part of a new hiker-biker trail for this region. The trail system in this area currently lacks east-west connectivity, for example between the heavily used Northwest Branch Trail and the Northeast Branch Trail systems. A trail through Guilford Woods and along Guilford Run would be an ideal way to increase trail connectivity and hiker/biker opportunities for leisure and for car-free commuting. Guilford Woods and the Guilford Run corridor fall within the County's Green Infrastructure Network, and are proposed as prominent features of the grass-roots proposal for a Guilford Greenway.
The areas of Guilford Woods and Guilford Run are a natural path for part of a new hiker-biker trail for this region. The trail system in this area currently lacks east-west connectivity, for example between the heavily used Northwest Branch Trail and the Northeast Branch Trail systems. A trail through Guilford Woods and along Guilford Run would be an ideal way to increase trail connectivity and hiker/biker opportunities for leisure and for car-free commuting. Guilford Woods and the Guilford Run corridor fall within the County's Green Infrastructure Network, and are proposed as prominent features of the grass-roots proposal for a Guilford Greenway.
part of the Green Infrastructure Network for Prince George's County
Guilford Woods and the Guilford Run corridor are identified as Green Infrastructure Network elements (Regulated and Evaluation Areas) for Prince George's County (Green Infrastructure Plan, 2005; Resource Conservation Plan, 2017). They are included as part of the Natural Resource Inventory (PGAtlas). These designations reflect the fact that Guilford Woods and Guilford Run are remaining pockets of natural infrastructure within an increasingly urban landscape. |
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Visiting Guilford Woods
Guilford Woods is accessible from the north or south side. Access from the north is from Mowatt Lane, at the corner of the Church of the Latter Day Saints parking lot (visitor parking is available in Mowatt Lane Garage). The access from the south is from Calverton Drive, in College Heights Estates. The well-used footpath crosses Guilford Woods, with a footbridge to get across Guilford Run. Some lesser-used footpaths are also present in the woods.
Piscataway-Conoy native lands
This region is part of the Piscataway-Conoy native lands. Learn more at: