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The Nature Conservancy in Missouri Home Contact Places We Protect Field Trips & Events Press Releases Volunteer Ways of Giving |
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Trice-Dedman Memorial Woods
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Trice Dedman Memorial Woods is one of the best oak woodlands in western Missouri. It provides a wonderful wilderness escape that includes a plethora of spring wildflowers and is within an hour driving distance of Kansas City.
Why You Should Visit
Only an hour's drive from Kansas City, Trice-Dedman is an excellent example of the oak woodlands that once wove through the prairies of northwestern Missouri. The stand of old-growth white oak conceals boulders and low outcrops of limestone bedrock in its valley bottoms and stream courses.
Location
North of Kansas City in Clinton County, east of Plattsburg.
Hours
Daylight
Size
60 acres
Conditions
There is a readily accessible, well-marked trail with moderate to gentle slopes.
How to Prepare for Your Visit
Check the local weather forecast and dress accordingly. Long pants and sleeves, hiking boots and hat are recommended. During warm weather, light color and light-weight clothing is suggested. Repellent, binoculars, field guide(s) and drinking water are also worth bringing.
Preserve Visitation Guidelines
What to See: Plants
Most of the oaks in this old-growth forest are between 160 and 180 years old. Spring flowers abound here, including violets, spring beauties, Dutchman's breeches and trout lilies. More diligent searchers will be rewarded with sightings of orchids, dwarf larkspur, early horse gentian, yellow honeysuckle and green dragon.
What to See: Animals
Birders will find a profusion of warblers and other migrants visiting in the spring season. Common woodland animals can be seen throughout the year.
Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
The 200 different native species at Trice-Dedman are threatened by the decline of the savanna-like oak woodland in favor of the more degraded, heavily shaded forest of elms and maples. Subsequently, garlic mustard, a very shade-tolerant and pernicious weed, has invaded the area.
What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Conservancy is focusing on managing the preserve to foster reproduction and recruitment of canopy oaks. We are conducting research to provide insight into Missouri's unique woodland system and conducting fire management and research. The Conservancy also extensively participates in a global volunteerism control project to control the invasion of the Garlic mustard weed. The preserve is managed in conjunction with DNR staff at nearby Wallace state park.
