Fork Branch Nature Preserve in Dover in Kent County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Welcome to Fork Branch Nature Preserve

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 24, 2025

1. Welcome to Fork Branch Nature Preserve Marker

Inscription.

Welcome to Fork Branch Nature Preserve. .

Chapter 73 of the Delaware Code, Title 7 states: "…it is necessary and desirable that areas of unusual natural significance be set aside and preserved for the benefit of present and future generations before they have been destroyed, for once destroyed they cannot be wholly restored…"

, What Is A Nature Preserve?. The Natural Areas Preservation System became law in February 1978. It was the first piece of legislation in Delaware history designed to permanently preserve the state's natural, geologic, and archeological resources. Its purpose was to "secure for the people of the State of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of areas having one or more" of the following characteristics: unusual flora or fauna; biotic, geological, scenic or archaeological features of scientific or educational value., The legislation allowed areas to be named as Natural Areas. Within the Natural Areas, special places that have remained in a natural state and provide habitat for unusual species are identified as Nature Preserves; the highest level of protection that can be afforded. Many of these Natural Areas and Nature Preserves are within Delaware's State Parks, but there are others throughout the the state might be owned by a local government agency or by a private group or individual who wants to ensure that the land is protected for us and future generations., To learn how you can help preserve these special places, call the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control's (DNREC) Office of Nature Preserves at (302) 739-9239, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/OpenSpaces, or speak to your local legislator., Besides the protected land of the Fork Branch Nature Preserve, the Governor and General Assembly have designated more than 6,500 acres throughout Delaware as protected land. A few of these special areas are listed below., Bellevue Woods Nature Preserve . Tulip Tree Woods Nature Preserve . Freshwater Marsh Nature Preserve . Flint Woods Nature Preserve . Angola Neck Nature Preserve . Beach Plum Island Nature Preserve . Cedar Creek Nature Preserve . Doe Bridge Nature Preserve . Thompson Island Nature Preserve . Murderkill River Nature Preserve . Pea Patch Island Nature Preserve . James Branch Nature Preserve

Chapter 73 of the Delaware Code, Title 7 states: "…it is necessary and desirable that areas of unusual natural significance be set aside and preserved for the benefit of present and future generations before they have been destroyed, for once destroyed they cannot be wholly restored…"

What Is A Nature Preserve? The Natural Areas Preservation System became law in February 1978. It was the first piece of legislation in Delaware history designed to permanently preserve the state's natural, geologic, and archeological resources. Its purpose was to "secure for the people of the State of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of areas having one or more" of the following characteristics: unusual flora or fauna; biotic, geological, scenic or archaeological features of scientific or educational value.

The legislation allowed areas to be named as Natural Areas. Within the Natural Areas, special places that have remained in a natural state and provide habitat for unusual species are identified as Nature Preserves; the highest level of protection that can be afforded. Many of these Natural Areas

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and Nature Preserves are within Delaware's State Parks, but there are others throughout the the state might be owned by a local government agency or by a private group or individual who wants to ensure that the land is protected for us and future generations.

To learn how you can help preserve these special places, call the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control's (DNREC) Office of Nature Preserves at (302) 739-9239, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/OpenSpaces, or speak to your local legislator.

Besides the protected land of the Fork Branch Nature Preserve, the Governor and General Assembly have designated more than 6,500 acres throughout Delaware as protected land. A few of these special areas are listed below.

Bellevue Woods Nature Preserve • Tulip Tree Woods Nature Preserve • Freshwater Marsh Nature Preserve • Flint Woods Nature Preserve • Angola Neck Nature Preserve • Beach Plum Island Nature Preserve • Cedar Creek Nature Preserve • Doe Bridge Nature Preserve • Thompson Island Nature Preserve • Murderkill River Nature Preserve • Pea Patch Island Nature Preserve • James Branch Nature Preserve

Erected by Delaware

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 24, 2025

2. Welcome to Fork Branch Nature Preserve Marker

State Parks.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Features • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Delaware State Parks series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1978.

Location. 39° 10.677′ N, 75° 34.899′ W. Marker is in Dover, Delaware, in Kent County. It is in Fork Branch Nature Preserve. It can be reached from Kenton Road (County Road 104) north of Baltray Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2373 Kenton Rd, Dover DE 19904, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Mid-Atlantic

and on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Anne McClements Woods (here, next to this marker);

Fork Branch Nature Preserve signage adjacent to the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 24, 2025

3. Fork Branch Nature Preserve signage adjacent to the marker

About the Park ...
At 236 acres, the Anne McClements Woods Track of the Fork Branch Nature Preserve is the largest forested area within Dover City limits and one of Dover's last remaining natural areas. Located in the headwaters of the St. Jones River, a large portion of the forest contains a unique stand of old growth American beech trees more than 150 years old.

About the Trail ...
Fork Branch Trail: 1.0 miles 🚶
The six foot wide stone dust Fork Branch Trail loops approximately 1 mile through the pristine Preserve providing opportunities for visitors to experience the stands of old growth American beech, native fauna and beautiful landscapes.

Fork Branch Nature Preserve (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Fork Branch Nature Preserve (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site of Carlisle African Methodist Episcopal Church (approx. 1.7 miles away); West Dover Hundred (approx. 1.8 miles away); Dupont School (approx. 2 miles away); Delaware State College High School (approx. 2 miles away); Loockerman Hall (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dover.

The St. Jones River Watershed [signage along the trail] image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 24, 2025

4. The St. Jones River Watershed [signage along the trail]

Seeing the Forest for the Trees [signage along the trail] image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 24, 2025

5. Seeing the Forest for the Trees [signage along the trail]

Credits. This page was last revised on May 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 123 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 25, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.