New Nature Preserve Near Shelbyville Has Old-Growth Forest

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A new central Indiana nature preserve that includes one of Indiana's few old-growth forests is set to open this week.

The Central Indiana Land Trust says Meltzer Woods near Shelbyville will open Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m. and be open seven days a week from dawn to dusk.

The land trust says the Indiana Bicentennial Nature Trust provided the gift that allowed it to purchase the site. It says other major contributors have been the Herbert Simon Family Foundation, the Blue River Community Foundation, the Indiana Heritage Trust and the Meltzer family.

Old-growth forests have trees more than 150 years old that have been relatively undisturbed.