WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST

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  • Rushton Conservation Center

Introducing WCT’s Strategic Plan

February 14, 2023 By Communications Team

STRATEGIC PLAN | 2023-2025
Saving, Studying, and Sharing Land, Water, and Habitat


WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?

Land conservation efforts have been underway in the Willistown area for over 40 years. A satellite program of Brandywine Conservancy, formed in 1979, was known as the Willistown Area Conservation Program. With the encouragement of the community and key local conservation leaders, Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT) became an independent, community based land trust in 1996 with a committed and active Board of Trustees.

Using the Crum, Ridley, and Darby Creek watersheds as a boundary guide, WCT’s traditional program area encompasses 28,000 acres in Chester County and portions of Delaware County, and is located approximately 20 miles west of Philadelphia. Despite tremendous growth pressures that have converted many neighboring communities into vast tracts of sprawl development, the WCT program area still remains largely an oasis of green space.

Successful land conservation and stewardship paved the way for major growth within the organization. Since its founding, WCT has grown to include a suite of activities focused on science, stewardship, education, and community engagement. In addition to Land Conservation and Land Stewardship, these core activities include Bird Conservation, Community Farm, Watershed Protection, and Outreach and Education. This holistic approach to conservation explores the connections among land, birds, habitat, agriculture, and water, and educates the public on these connections.

Our land protection and stewardship efforts have been focused on the Willistown area; however, our work has a regional and national impact on conservation.

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

Over the next three years, as our land protection efforts thrive and new opportunities in our traditional program area diminish, we anticipate a growing emphasis on habitat conservation and restoration, education and community outreach. Within these conserved lands, we will use our growing body of research in bird, water, and agro-ecology to inform best practices and engage with the community to educate and inspire an ethos of conservation and care of our land, waters, and habitat where wildlife thrives. In addition, we will identify and consider land protection and conservation opportunities outside of our traditional program area that fulfill service gaps in surrounding communities and meet vital conservation needs, as we interact and collaborate with new communities and organizations.

We will continue to be a robust organization that is well established, broadly supported, and attracts leaders at the forefront of the conservation field. Our science-based programs will contribute research to inform conservation priorities and best practices on a regional, national and international scale. We will attract a diverse group of staff, Trustees, and volunteers who are deeply committed to the mission of WCT and bring a variety of perspectives, skills, and experiences to our work. We will offer robust community and educational programs that attract a wide swath of participants. We will use our established expertise and connections for the conservation benefit of communities outside our traditional area of focus.

To read our Strategic Plan in full, click the cover below:

Filed Under: Bird Conservation, Education, Farm, General, Land Protection, Staff, Stewardship, Watershed

It’s a Wrap for the Campaign for Rushton Woods!

January 31, 2023 By Communications Team

In 2018 Willistown Conservation Trust embarked upon an ambitious $2 million fundraising campaign. Named the “Campaign for Rushton Woods,” the effort came on the heels of the construction of the Rushton Conversation Center (RCC), located on the grounds of the Rushton Woods Preserve. 

The Campaign supported a vision to enhance the Rushton Woods Preserve, featuring the stunning new RCC as its heart, as a hub of conservation activity for WCT. Specifically, the campaign was designed to raise funds to renovate the White Farm House on the property, establish an environmental master plan for the Preserve, improve circulation and recreational enjoyment of the Preserve, and provide much needed operating support for the vibrant programs based from Rushton Woods: Watershed Protection, the Community Farm, Bird Conservation, and Land Stewardship activities. 

We are thrilled to report that the WCT community of generous funders and donors came together and, as of December 31, 2022, successfully completed the Campaign.

Many results made possible by the Campaign can already be seen by the community. The White Farm House which sits just west of the RCC has been attractively rehabbed and expanded. It now boasts a guest room which has provided overnight accommodations to visiting conservationists and scientists. Ornithologists from Tadoussac Bird Observatory in Canada recently commented, “Such a wonderful place with such wonderful people! We had an amazing time at WCT and we learned a lot from all of you,” upon conclusion of their stay. A first floor conference room and bird book library now serve as a small group meeting space for organizational meetings, as well as a place for farm staff to cool off over lunch on hot summer days. 

The Master Plan for Rushton Woods was also completed with Campaign funding, and it outlined a framework to address identified environmental and recreational improvements needed in the Preserve. As a result of the Master Plan, several projects have already begun, including the first step in restoring the hedgerows in the center of the Preserve. The first 100 feet of invasive species were removed by Land Studies Inc., and replanted by Preserve and Facilities Manager Mike Cranney with the help of volunteers. The project was funded with a grant from Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology. 

A new visible result is the just-completed equestrian/pedestrian trail through the woods, constructed by Green Roots Landscaping. This beautiful and functional path will be enjoyed by hikers and horses alike as they wind their way through the woods on sure and dry footing. Further enhancements planned in the coming year include an ADA accessible trail connecting the Rushton Farm shed to the RCC with a section of hedgerow restoration along Delchester Road as well as a bioretention basin, which will address stormwater, improve stream health by reducing erosion, provide habitat, and be accessible to all with an additional ADA trail loop.

Campaign funds will also support WCT operating activities and programs. Rising costs and growth of our departments require constant funding, and our ability to keep the departments running relies upon the generosity of a community who understands the importance of open space and conserved land and its positive impact on wildlife preservation and a healthy environment.

The Board and staff of WCT would like to acknowledge and thank all those who came together in this effort. There were approximately 71 donors, made up of individuals, foundations, and governmental organizations. Additionally, the work at this Preserve wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated volunteers and Land Stewardship Team. We will continue to provide updates to the community, as work is completed at Rushton. The entire community is welcome and encouraged to visit the Preserve to enjoy a solitary winter hike or a lively, warm weather picnic at one of our Community Super Series events. There is something for everyone at Rushton Woods Preserve!

A big thanks to everyone who contributed to this Campaign:

Anonymous (2)

1976 Foundation

Mr. Timothy B. Barnard and Ms. Meredyth Patterson

Lisa Hatcher and Charlie Bernard

Michael and Linda Burg

Mr. Adrian A. Castelli and Ms. Molly G. Love

Chester County Preservation Program

The Colket Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. John F. Cozzi

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Department of Environmental Protection: Growing Greener

Diamond Ice Foundation

Anthony and Linda DiValerio

Ray Dombroski and Colleen DeMorat

Dick and Nancy Eales

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher B. Ebmeyer

Kate and Ben Etherington

First Cornerstone Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. John Fry

Jim and Dina Gibson

Steve and Christina Graham

Julie S. and K. David Graham

Mrs. Perry C. Gresh

Dr. Janet F. Haas and Mr. John Otto Haas

Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel P. Hamilton Jr.

Meg and Chris Hardesty

Alice and Peter Hausmann

Lynn Hitschler

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Hofmann

Mr. and Mrs. Bill T. Howard

Elayne Howard

Beth and David Hucker

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Johnson

Mrs. Barbara M. Jordan

Michelle Kichline

Mr. George F. Krall Jr.

Ms. Lisa Krall

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Layden, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Mark T. Ledger

Lindsay and Ted Leisenring

Michael McGraw

McLean Contributionship

Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. McMenamin

Dr. F. Arthur McMorris and Dr. Joanna Balcarek McMorris

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Morse

Donna and Bill Oliver

Otto Haas Charitable Trust

Heidi S. Phelan

Marshall-Reynolds Foundation

Quaker City Foundation

Lang and Marilyn Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Steven L. Spinner

Veritable, LP

Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Stolper

John F. and Holly H. Stoviak

Jennifer H. Gorman-Strawbridge

Mr. and Mrs. Peter S. Strawbridge

Jeanne and Doug Swope

Mr. Matt E. Taylor and Ms. Francie Ingersoll

The Darling Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation

The RJM Foundation

Bob and Carolyn Turner

UNFI Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. James L. Van Alen II

Mr. and Mrs. James L. Van Alen, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander S. Van Alen

Mr. and Mrs. Rob B. Van Alen

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Warden

The Honorable Thomas D. Watkins and Mrs. Penelope Watkins

Ms. Lida A. Wright

Alex and Janine Zozaya

Filed Under: Nature Preserves, Rushton Conservation Center, Stewardship, Trails

Market in the Meadow Vegetarian Chili Recipe

December 6, 2022 By Communications Team

This recipe comes from What’s Gaby Cooking.

You all loved our Vegetarian Chili from Market in the Meadow, so we had to share!

A special thanks to our dedicated volunteers who harvested, chopped, and cooked this delicious meal at the Rushton Conservation Center. Most of the ingredients came right from Rushton Farm.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus 2 extra teaspoons
  • 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
  • 1 large red onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 1/2 cups vegetable stock
  • 1 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 14.5-ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup dried quinoa
  • 4 teaspoons lime juice
  • serving suggestions: avocado, cilantro, crema, grated cheese

DIRECTIONS

  1. Heat a large heavy bottom pot with the oil over medium high heat.
  2. Add the sweet potato and onion and cook for about 5 minutes, until the onion is softened. Add the garlic, chili powder, chipotle, cumin, and salt and stir to combine.
  3. Add the stock, tomatoes, black beans, and quinoa and bring the mixture to a boil. Stir to incorporate.
  4. Cover the pot and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer.
  5. Cook for 30-40 minutes until the quinoa is fully cooked and the sweet potatoes are soft.
  6. Add the lime juice and remove the pot from the heat. Season with salt as needed.
  7. Garnish with avocado, cilantro, crema, or cheese before serving.

Serves 4 people.

This recipe comes from What’s Gaby Cooking.

Filed Under: Rushton Conservation Center, Sustainable Agriculture, Volunteers

Your Voice is Valued! Help us Complete Our DEI Audit so Our Organization can Improve its Practices

October 31, 2022 By Communications Team

In 2020 Willistown Conservation Trust made a renewed commitment to its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. As our society continues to grapple with the events of recent years that have highlighted significant disparities and inequalities in how persons of different racial, ethnic, age and income backgrounds are being impacted in starkly different ways, WCT has taken a deeper look into its role and duty to be more diverse, equitable and inclusive as an organization. We continue to evaluate how we, as an organization, can truly live out our mission and share our love of nature with individuals of all backgrounds. 

The formation of the Committee for Equity and Inclusion — led by Staff and Trustees — has taken steps to address the following goals made at the committee’s inception:

  • An ongoing effort to reflect on and actualize our commitment to diversity throughout all levels of our organization.
  • Examining our organization’s culture and business practices to ensure equity in our operations.
  • Actively seek opportunities to learn about biases and injustices in the conservation field, and how we as an organization can better promote inclusivity across our programming.

After many committee meetings focused on internal reflection, we felt it was critical to take a step further and work with consultants well versed in the DEI sector. We thoroughly researched a variety of providers and consultant firms, ultimately hiring Roshawnda Washington and Michael Matthews from The Nonprofit Center at LaSalle University. Michael and Ro will lead a series of structured conversations and retreats for the Board and Staff to connect on developing a shared organizational vision, review and discuss guiding principles (i.e. values, mission and vision), discuss organizational strengths and challenges, and formulate strategies and goals. The first of these retreats occurred in September, with a focus on defining the concepts of diversity, equity and inclusion, and examining how identity, culture, stereotypes and implicit and explicit bias influence how we perceive, evaluate and react to others. 

The next step in this process is the completion of a DEI audit, something that we need your help completing! This audit is designed to offer a real and unbiased look at the current equity, diversity and inclusion conditions of the organization. This analysis is important because it provides us with the essential information to inform, evaluate and improve DEI strategic goals and priorities. We are asking for input from anyone connected to WCT, and we hope that you will take the time to complete this audit by emailing Kate Etherington a survey request here (kwe@wctrust.org).

Responses will be collected through November 11, 2022. We are deeply grateful for your feedback and look forward to sharing the audit results in the coming months. 

Filed Under: Staff

Plastic Free July Local Lessons from The Przybylowski Family

July 22, 2022 By Communications Team

During this year’s Plastic Free July, the Trust is committing to going plastic free and highlighting tips and tricks to reduce plastic use. Admitting we have a plastic problem is the first step to finding a solution, and that’s exactly what the Przbylowski family is doing. After partnering with NexTrex, 16-year-old twin sisters Kathryn and Madelyn distributed collection bins to gather plastic waste and raise awareness in our community. 

One of their collection bins can be found at the Rushton Farm Farmshed. We invite CSA members and visitors to Rushton Farm and Rushton Woods Preserve to drop off their plastic in this bin and in turn eliminate more plastic that makes its way to landfills everyday. Read below to understand what plastic is being accepted and learn more about this great project. 

Madelyn and Kathryn Pryzbylowski – NexTrex Program

Interview with mom, Tracy Przybylowksi, and her daughters, Kathryn and Madelyn.

Can you describe the project you are working on?

The organization we work with is called NexTrex and it’s through the Trex company which makes environmentally responsible outdoor products like composite decking and railing. We participate in the Trex School Challenge which means we compete with other schools our size across the nation to see who collects the most plastic film. Around Earth Day the winners are announced. This is a great program for schools because it raises awareness among students and families showing us first hand just how much plastic is used and thrown away, which is primarily single-use. We place our bins at Tredyffrin-Easttown Middle School (we’re hoping to put one at Conestoga High Next year) as an easy way for families to drop off their plastic. We then collect the bin when it is full, we weigh it and bring it to Wegmans where Trex will then collect all plastic film to turn it into environmentally responsible outdoor products. We are trying to get as many schools to participate as possible. More information can be found here: https://recycle.trex.com/ 

How did you get involved in this project?

We’ve been “plogging” (picking up trash while jogging/walking) for several years around our neighborhoods and when we go to the beach after following Take 3 for the Sea. We noticed A LOT of plastic bags stuck in gutters and around waterways. We found this program and thought it would be a great way to educate our community and recycle plastic film. We started the program when we were in 8th grade which was around the time COVID-19 started. We have continued the program into high school. This was a good way to continue doing our community service since it requires no person to person contact and it was still the height of COVID through the first part of our sophomore year.

What kind of plastic do you collect?

We collect plastic film, specifically produce bags, store bags, ice bags, ziploc and other reclosable bags, cereal box liners, case over wrap, bread bags, news paper sleeves, dry cleaning bags, bubble wrap, plastic e-commerce bags. Acceptable plastic film poster here http://www.plasticsmarkets.org/jsfcode/upload/w493_q2_sp21_0_trex-recycling-posterpdf.pdf Unacceptable plastic film here http://www.plasticsmarkets.org/jsfcode/upload/wd_493/20220309150414_9_jsfwd_493_q2_1.pdf 

How much plastic did you collect last year?

During the 2020-21 school year, we placed 3rd in the nation by collecting 704 pounds. During the 2021-22 school year, we placed 3rd in the nation again by collecting 1,009 pounds.  

Who collected the most plastic last year?

The first place school that won last year was from Elmhurst, Illinois. They collected over 4,000 pounds of plastic. 

Where does the plastic that you collect go?

We place our NexTrex bins at Tredyffrin-Easttown Middle School as an easy way for families to drop off their plastic. We’re hoping to put one at Conestoga High School next year as well. We then collect the bin when it’s full, weigh it, and bring it to Wegmans where Trex will collect all plastic film and turn it into environmentally responsible outdoor products. We are trying to get as many schools to participate as possible. More information can be found here:  https://recycle.trex.com/. You may also find bins at local libraries and Township buildings. If you can’t find a bin, Wegmans is a participating NexTrex business. 

Did you learn anything new, or did anything surprise you about this project?

We were mostly surprised by just how much plastic we have collected the last few years, and we know this is just a fraction of what is being thrown away everyday. Many families have shared this same sentiment. Before starting this project, we had no idea that plastic film could even be recycled into decking! 

Why do you think it’s important to use less plastic?

It’s hard to know exactly how long it takes for plastic film to decompose, but we know it’s at least a decade or more. It’s likely it will never fully decompose and will just turn into microplastics, which harm both humans and animals. The consumption of microplastics will only increase if we continue to irresponsibly dispose of single-use plastics. 

What are your collection goals for this year?

Our biggest goal is to educate our communities to use less plastic. We have given our collection numbers to local advocates who are trying to ban the use of plastic bags. Our hope is to continue to raise awareness and use more NexTrex bins in our townships so plastic film can be recycled responsibly and not end up in landfills and waterways. If plastic must be used, we hope that the plastic is then recycled into something environmentally responsible. We have recently had a lot of interest and questions from other schools looking to incorporate NexTrex in their schools so it’s exciting to see young people getting involved in environmental issues. 

How can people help you achieve your goals?

You can start helping by limiting the use of single-use plastic film! If you do have to use it, then properly dispose of it. We would be happy to drop off a NexTrex bin to your establishment! Or sign up for your own bin! You can also follow @Mainlineploggers on Instagram for some local environmental tips and programs that help keep our communities clean and green! 

Visit our Plastic Free July page for more resources.

Filed Under: Plastic Free July

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OUR NATURE PRESERVES

Our nature preserves are open to the public 365 days per year from sunrise to sunset, providing natural places that offer peace and respite for all. Willistown Conservation Trust owns and manages three nature preserves in the Willistown area - Ashbridge, Kirkwood and Rushton Woods Preserve. We maintain these lands for the … Learn more about our nature preserves.

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