Resource Enhancement and Protection
Whitham Woods, located one mile west of Fairfield on Highway 34, is the
original site of the C.W. Whitham Nursery.
Whitham Woods is used for such passive recreation forms as hiking, crosscountry skiing, photography, fishing, bird watching, and nature
appreciation.
Whitham Woods
Whitham Woods, located one mile west of Fairfield on Highway 34, is the original site of the C.W. Whitham Nursery. It was donated to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation in 1980 by Daisy Whitham, and then turned over to the Jefferson County Conservation Board on a management-lease agreement.
Many of the original nursery plantings have grown to maturity, creating an interesting diversification of plant materials. The north half of the area is covered by oak and hickory timber, providing excellent habitat for deer, squirrels, rabbits and various non-game bird species.
A four acre prairie plot seeded with Big Blue Stem, Little Blue Stem, Indian Grass, Side Oats Grama, Switch Grass and various native forbs can also be found here.
Whitham Woods is used for such passive recreation forms as hiking, cross-country skiing, photography, fishing, bird watching, and nature appreciation.
At the request of the Whitham family at the time of the donation, no infrastructure or development can take place at Whitham Woods although a parking lot has been provided just off of Highway 34 and a section of the Loop Trail has been constructed in the park.
A book on the history of Whitham Woods is available at the Fairfield Public Library.
Within Whitham Woods you can find approximately 111 different species of
trees, including 18 species of conifers and fruit trees such as apple, peach, pear and plum.
A species checklist can be picked up at the conservation board office in Jefferson County Park.
