Ellanor C. Lawrence Park

CONTACT INFORMATION: Walney Visitor Center Open hours: Mon & Wed-Fri 9-5 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 12-5 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. The park's trails, picnic tables and grounds are open dawn to dusk.
703-631-0013 TTY 711
5040 Walney Road
Chantilly, Virginia
John Shafer
Manager

Department Resources

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Plants and Animals in ECLP

A cardinal, a hawk and a bluebird

 

Bird Species

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park falls within the Piedmont geologic province, which stretches from New York City to Alabama. Some 300 years ago, European settlers cleared the forested land and converted it to agricultural use. Within the last 100 years, much of this region has been abandoned as farmland, largely due to the decrease in soil quality from intensive farming practices. Where development has not replaced farms, natural succession has led to reforestation.
Ellanor C. Lawrence Park is a prime example of this succession. The park encompasses several different stages of forest succession that offer different habitats for wildlife. These include open meadows, an eastern red cedar thicket, mixed deciduous-conifer forest, maturing hardwood forest, stream valleys and a pond. This diversity provides for the 133 species of birds that have been documented in the park. 
 
Red fox resting on the ground

 

Flowering Plant Species

The flowering plant species list was compiled over several years from observations by park staff and local amateur botanists. It represents most of the flowering plants found in the park. New species are added each year. Park staff appreciates reports of new sightings on the park message board or at Walney Visitor Center (703-631-0013). Please include your name, an e-mail address or phone number, species name (botanic and common), location, reference volume used and date sighted in the report. More information.

 

Mammal Species

This list of mammal species has been compiled by park staff through field observations, sightings and lists of animals found in the region that could occur here. Please report new sightings on the park message board or at Walney Visitor Center (703-631-0013). Please include your name, an e-mail address or phone number, species name, and location.
More information.
 

Reptiles/Amphibians in Ellanor C. Lawrence Park

This list of reptile and amphibian species has been compiled by park staff from field observations, sightings, and lists of animals found in the region that could occur here. Please report new sightings or observations on the web page message board. More information.

Frog sitting on a log

 

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