Bush Mill Stream Natural Area Preserve, Protected wetland area in Northumberland County, Virginia, United States
Bush Mill Stream Natural Area Preserve is a 144-acre protected area featuring fresh and brackish tidal wetlands where the stream meets the Great Wicomico River. The landscape combines open water, marsh vegetation, and wooded banks creating distinct habitats throughout the site.
Virginia's Department of Conservation and Recreation designated the site as a natural area preserve to protect critical wetland habitats and water resources in the Northern Neck region. This protected status ensured the preservation of these ecosystems for future generations.
The preserve functions as an educational site where visitors learn about tidal marsh ecosystems through interpretive trails and observation platforms.
The preserve opens daily from sunrise to sunset with the entrance accessed via VA 642, marked by a sign near the junction with VA 610. Visitors should follow marked routes through the wetlands to explore the site safely and respect the protected environment.
The preserve harbors Virginia's largest population of the rare bog fern Coryphopteris simulata within its protected swamp environments. This plant species is found nowhere else in such concentration in the surrounding region.
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