Baldwin Woods


Baldwin Woods, formally called the Baldwin Woods Forest Preserve, is a nature reserve in Douglas County in the U.S. state of Kansas. The forest preserve is located near the municipality of Vinland within the Lawrence, Kansas metropolitan area. Formerly a old-growth forest grove of white oak and hickory, with interspersed tallgrass prairie savanna, the old-growth portion of the forest preserve has been reduced to its present size. The park is managed by the KU Field Station, a division of the University of Kansas.
The forest preserve was named a National Natural Landmark in 1980.
The KU Field Station operates Baldwin Woods for the longitudinal study of the ecosystem dynamics of a woodland that is experiencing minimal human intervention onsite. The Woods is not managed for access; it is a scientific site with no public parking. Infrequent public tours, for which pre-registration is required, are sometimes offered. The KU Field Station acquired the Baldwin Woods tracts in a series of land transfers from 1965 through 2016.