The Hybrid American Chestnut Orchard and Reforestation Project is a collaboration with the American Chestnut Foundation, Hood College and other partners. American chestnut trees were important both economically and ecologically in American forests before most were destroyed by a fungal blight in the late 1800’s. The first long-term goal of the project is to produce a Catoctin hybrid that is resistant to the American chestnut blight. The second goal is to introduce this hybrid into eastern forests.

ThorpeWood established a 374-tree orchard to help scientists develop a resistant strain of chestnut trees that would be viable in the microclimate of the local region. ThorpeWood supports volunteer activities that maintain the orchard and serves as a host facility for youth and adult organizations committed to the study of chestnuts and the success of our orchard.