Hickory Hollow Natural Area Preserve near Lancaster offers one of the best nature walks in coastal Virginia and is also a place where Virginia’s earliest blooming plant, Skunk Cabbage, can be found in bloom with no foliage.
The Northern Neck Audubon Society owns Hickory Hollow and for many past years knowledgeable local naturalists have led a New Year’s Day Walk to get folks out in nature to welcome in the New Year. Last year’s walk was cancelled due to the scourge of Covid but the Audubon Board felt this year it could carefully be offered once again. And was cosponsored by the Northern Neck Chapters of the Virginia Native Plant Society and the Virginia Master Naturalists.
But sadly, because of the rapid spread of the new Omicron Covid strain reported in the last few weeks, the Audubon Board and cosponsors have reluctantly decided it is not quite the time to offer a public walk.
When last year’s walk was cancelled, two local naturalists and Audubon Board members, Kevin Howe and Betsy Washington, put together a winter Virtual walk for Hickory Hollow entitled “Virtual Hickory Hollow Skunk Cabbage Walk”. This virtual presentation is again available with a few additions and updates. It can be found on the Northern Neck Audubon’s main page website at https://northernneckaudubon.squarespace.com. The Virtual Walk describes the location, provides a map and lots of pictures and description of what you will see including Skunk Cabbage.
Hickory Hollow is one of Virginia’s 66 Natural Area Preserve (a new one added this year) and contains 254 acres of mixed pine-hardwood forest, ravines, and swamp habitats. “One 22-acre area forms Cabin Swamp, an extraordinary wetland community that supports a very high diversity of plants including several plants found in the mountains and here at Cabin Swamp but nowhere in between. Referred to as a” Coastal Plain Basic Seepage Swamp”, this ecological community is globally rare and arguably the only one of its type left in Virginia”, said Betsy Washington, Botanist and Conservation Chair at NNNPS. We are so lucky to have this treasure close at hand!
The Northern Neck Audubon Board hopes everyone takes advantage of a New Year’s Day walk with family and friends at Hickory Hollow and see the Skunk Cabbage blooms along the boardwalk at Cabin Swamp. But please do not step off the Boardwalk at the Swamp. The trail to Cabin Swamp is somewhat narrow and steep so wear sturdy shoes and be careful. Happy New Year to all.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS to Hickory Hollow: From Kilmarnock, follow VA 3 towards Lancaster. Just before you reach Lancaster, turn right onto Reginia Rd., VA 604
If you have questions about Audubon or Hickory Hollow, please email nnaudubon@gmail.com, where we welcome questions and comments.
Photos: Top: Bloom 12-29-2018 Middle: Blooms: 12-6-2021 Bottom: Foliage 3-30-2021