Sometimes you just need to get out of the house and enjoy nature, especially now.  That is why my daughter and I headed over to Big Trees Forest Preserve located at 7645 Roswell Road a couple of weeks ago.  This haven of beautiful trees, trails, wooden bridges, and streams is a nice place to leave your troubles behind for a little while.

In 1989, thirty acres of land were for sale on Roswell Road and advertised as the perfect spot for another car dealership.  Thankfully, John Ripley Forbes wanted to save this land.  He recognized that there were many large historic trees on the property.  A co-operative partnership was formed between the Southeast Land Preservation Trust, Fulton County, the state of Georgia and some private citizens to purchase the land.  Forbes worked for over ten years on this project.

Forbes was an expert on development and organization of children’s natural science centers and wildlife sanctuaries across the U. S.  He came to Atlanta in 1971 and founded the Outdoor Activity Center in Southwest Atlanta and the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell.  He was instrumental in saving over 3,500 acres of land in the United States.   He founded the Natural Science for Youth Foundation. Time Magazine called John Ripley Forbes “the Johnny Appleseed of nature museums.”

It was John Ripley Forbes idea that a nature center would be a good purpose for the land which became Dunwoody Nature Center.

Charlie Cochrane was the first director of John Ripley Forbes Big Trees Forest Preserve and continued in that role for ten years.  Cochrane laid out and built trails and promoted the forest to the people and businesses of the community.  He also directed thousands of volunteers for Big Trees Forest Preserve.  Sadly, he passed away in 2007 while working at the preserve.

This tree, plant, wildlife sanctuary and urban forest is located to the right of the North Fulton County Government Service Building.  Parking is available adjacent to the park.  For trail maps and additional information go to bigtreesforest.com. 

The mission of the John Ripley Forbes Big Trees Forest Preserve is “to preserve and protect this urban forest while linking community learning, health, and wellbeing to the natural environment.”  Walking the trails and enjoying the beauty of the preserve certainly helped our health and well-being that day.