Herb Walk: Big Trees Forest Preserve

The John Ripley Forbes Big Trees Forest Preserve in Sandy Springs, Georgia, is a quiet gem cherished by Atlanta-area nature enthusiasts and conservation advocates. Originally at risk of being developed into a car dealership in 1989, visionary conservationist John Ripley Forbes recognized the ecological and educational value of these majestic woods and spearheaded efforts—through a collaborative partnership with the Southeast Land Preservation Trust, Fulton County, the State, and local citizens—to protect this 30-acre tract as a sanctuary and living learning center. Today, Big Trees stands not just as a refuge of towering hardwoods and a rich native understory, but also as the first Fulton County park to join the national Old-Growth Forest Network, affirming its status as a mature forest preserved for public access and stewardship.

This summer’s unseasonably cool weather, paired with generous rainfall, has brought an early flush of fall fungi to the forest floor. Bright chanterelles, robust amanitas, and tiny, glass-like marasmius, reminding visitors of the forest’s intricate web of seasonal rhythms. For the clinical herbalist, Big Trees is more than a peaceful escape—it’s a living classroom, offering opportunities to observe native medicinal plants and the fungal allies that share their ecosystem, deepening our understanding of both plant medicine and the cycles that sustain it.