Anderson Woods Nature Preserve protects nearly 80 acres of mixed hardwood forest in an area that is increasingly pressured by development. The forest at Anderson Woods is structurally diverse. It has both large and small canopy gaps and has good vertical stratification, with trees that provide habitat in the canopy, midstory, and understory of the forest. 

Located near the lakeshore, the preserve provides important nesting and feeding habitat for migratory birds and supports resident birds that require large tracts of unbroken forest, such as the ovenbird and scarlet tanager. The Land Conservancy’s management of the preserve has focused on keeping invasive species at bay and conducting prescribed burns to maintain the health of the forest. 

Humans have shaped the landscape in the vicinity of Anderson Woods Nature Preserve for thousands of years. Native Americans altered the landscape around the preserve by hunting, farming, burning, and the establishment of villages and trails. European settlers arrived and extensively logged forests in the area at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. Like the vast majority of forests in the surrounding area, the property which is now the preserve was clear cut for timber in the late 1800s. 

In 1929, the property was purchased by Theodore Anderson, who appreciated the natural beauty of the land and allowed it to naturally reforest. An aerial photo shows that by 1938, most of the property was covered in second-growth forest except for some areas in the southwest portion of the property that were mostly open with some scattered trees. 

Theodore’s daughter Judy inherited the property after her parents passed away. As a legacy to her father who cherished the land, she donated it to the Land Conservancy in 2013 for the purpose of protecting it forever as a nature preserve. In 2015, the Land Conservancy improved the visitor experience at Anderson Woods with the installation of an accessible trail system, small parking area, and interpretive signs. Anderson Woods was made possible through the generosity of our community.