STENTON
A house of learning, past and present.
Explore the Woodland Edge
As you walk the woodland paths, take note of everything you see around you and under your feet.
Tree snags are dead trees that were left standing on purpose to provide habitat for birds, bats, squirrels, insects, mosses, and fungi. Dead trees provide vital habitat for more than 1,000 species of wildlife nationwide!
Logs and decaying wood are particularly important for beetles, who feed on and live in them. Beetles are important decomposers, breaking down dead wood and returning nutrients to the soil.
Even the woodchips under your feet serve a purpose. They are made of chipped wood from dead trees and fallen limbs on the property. Rather than removing nutrients from Stenton’s grounds, it is all returned to the soil.
Additional Resources
Visit the National Wildlife Federation website to learn more about how dead trees support wildlife and how you can incorporate them into your habitat.