WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST

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Welcome to the Willistown Conservation Trust Blog

News, ideas, questions, and observations from Willistown Conservation Trust Staff as we use local conservation to make a broad impact.

Bird Conservation Native Plants Nature Stewardship

Restoring Rushton’s Shrub-Scrub for the Benefit of the Birds

Mike Cranney / March 27, 2023
By Mike Cranney, Preserve and Facilities Manager For over 13 years, Willistown Conservation Trust’s (WCT) Bird Conservation program has been...
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Bird Conservation Education Farm General Land Protection Staff Stewardship Watershed

Introducing WCT’s Strategic Plan

Communications Team / February 14, 2023
STRATEGIC PLAN | 2023-2025Saving, Studying, and Sharing Land, Water, and Habitat WHERE HAVE WE BEEN? Land conservation efforts have been...
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Nature Preserves Rushton Conservation Center Stewardship Trails

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

Communications Team / January 31, 2023
In 2018 Willistown Conservation Trust embarked upon an ambitious $2 million fundraising campaign. Named the “Campaign for Rushton Woods,” the...
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Conservation Stewardship

Request for Proposal | Rushton Woods Preserve

Andrew Kirkpatrick / January 25, 2023
ProjectWillistown Conservation Trust is seeking proposals for the design, permitting, and construction of a bioretention basin with level spreader and...
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Watershed

Watershed Holiday Gift Guide

Watershed Protection Team / December 20, 2022
Check out some of our favorite watershed-themed gifts by clicking the photos to shop! And don't forget to shop local!...
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Education Watershed

Help Keep our Drinking Water Clean by Reducing Salt Pollution

Anna Willig / December 15, 2022
By WCT Conservation Research and Data Specialist Anna WilligCover Photo by Jennifer Mathes Salt levels, often measured as chloride concentration,...
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Conservation Nature Science Volunteers Watershed

Capturing a Snapshot of Darby Creek

Anna Willig / December 7, 2022
By WCT Conservation Research and Data Specialist Anna Willig  At the beginning of November, the Watershed Protection Program at Willistown...
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Rushton Conservation Center Sustainable Agriculture Volunteers

Market in the Meadow Vegetarian Chili Recipe

Communications Team / December 6, 2022
This recipe comes from What's Gaby Cooking. You all loved our Vegetarian Chili from Market in the Meadow, so we...
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Bird Banding Bird Conservation Conservation Nature Staff

My Conservation Journey: A Tale of Two Countries

Bird Conservation Team / December 1, 2022
By WCT Bird Conservation Associate Phillys N. Gichuru My first memorable conservation experience was when, as an undergrad, my population...
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Education Science Staff Volunteers Watershed

Fish Shocking

Lauren McGrath / November 29, 2022
On Saturday, October 22, the Watershed Protection Program joined scientists from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University’s Fisheries...
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Conservation Land Protection Nature Preserves Stewardship Trails

Chester County Commissioners, PA DCNR, Willistown Conservation Trust, and Willistown Township Celebrate 12-Acre Addition to Kirkwood Preserve

Monica McQuail / November 2, 2022
Photo from L to R: Julie Graham (WCT), Drew Gilchrist (PA DCNR), Judy Thomas (Chester County Parks & Preservation), Jeanne...
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Staff

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

Communications Team / October 31, 2022
In 2020 Willistown Conservation Trust made a renewed commitment to its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. As our society...
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Conservation Education Land Protection

2022 Lenape Sojourn

Lauren McGrath / September 29, 2022
By Watershed Protection Program Director Lauren McGrath; Photos by Kate Etherington On August 16, 2022, Executive Director Kate Etherington and...
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Education Science Watershed

State of Our Streams Report Chapter 4: Alkalinity and Hardness

Watershed Protection Team / August 24, 2022
By Anna Willig and Lauren McGrath | Willistown Conservation Trust Watershed Protection Program Cover Photo by Jennifer Mathes Since 2018, the...
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Education Science Watershed

State of Our Streams Report Chapter 3: Specific Conductivity, Chloride, and Nutrients

CommIntern / August 17, 2022
By Anna Willig and Lauren McGrath | Willistown Conservation Trust Watershed Protection Program Cover Photo by Jennifer Mathes Since 2018, the...
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Science Watershed

State of Our Streams Report Chapter 2: Physical Stream Parameters

Watershed Protection Team / August 10, 2022
By Anna Willig and Lauren McGrath | Willistown Conservation Trust Watershed Protection Program Cover Photo by the Watershed Protection Team Since...
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Science Watershed

State of Our Streams Report Chapter 1: Introduction and Basic Stream Parameters

Watershed Protection Team / August 3, 2022
By Anna Willig and Lauren McGrath | Willistown Conservation Trust Watershed Protection Program Cover Photo by Jennifer Mathes The focus...
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Bird Banding Bird Conservation Farm

Rushton Farm’s First Purple Martins

Aaron Coolman / July 28, 2022
Purple Martins at the Rushton Farm hotel this spring. Photo by Aaron Coolman Eight years ago, our Bird Conservation Program...
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Nature Science Watershed

Project Plastic and the Hunt for Microplastics

Watershed Protection Team / July 27, 2022
By Amy Amatya of Project Plastic Some of the greatest challenges humanity faces today — pandemics, climate change, water contamination...
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Plastic Free July

Plastic Free July Local Lessons from The Przybylowski Family

Communications Team / July 22, 2022
During this year’s Plastic Free July, the Trust is committing to going plastic free and highlighting tips and tricks to...
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{"dots":"true","arrows":"true","autoplay":"true","autoplay_interval":3000,"speed":600,"loop":"true","design":"design-1"}

Microplastics: The ever present contaminant
Education Plastic Free July Watershed

Microplastics: The ever present contaminant

Watershed Protection Team / July 20, 2022
By Watershed Protection Program Co-Op Vincent Liu Large-scale plastic production has been around since the 1950s, and while plastics existed...
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Reducing Single-Use Plastics | What You Can Do to Help
Education Plastic Free July

Reducing Single-Use Plastics | What You Can Do to Help

CommIntern / July 14, 2022
By Outreach & Communications Intern Niya Moss Most people find single-use plastics simple and convenient, but there are alternative, more...
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Save the Humans! | The Dangers of Plastic Pollution
Education Plastic Free July

Save the Humans! | The Dangers of Plastic Pollution

CommIntern / July 13, 2022
By Outreach & Communications Intern Niya Moss When people think of plastic pollution, their first thought is usually “save the...
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The Burden of Expanding Plastic Production and Use: A Great Product or a Horrific Product? Your Choice
Education Plastic Free July Watershed

The Burden of Expanding Plastic Production and Use: A Great Product or a Horrific Product? Your Choice

Watershed Protection Team / July 13, 2022
By Carol L. Armstrong, Ph.D., ABN, Friends of Heinz Refuge, Board of Directors Did you know that right here in...
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Plastic Free July Local Lessons: How Malvern Buttery Reduces Their Plastic Use
Education

Plastic Free July Local Lessons: How Malvern Buttery Reduces Their Plastic Use

Monica McQuail / July 11, 2022
Introduction During this year’s Plastic Free July, the Trust is committing to going plastic free and highlighting tips and tricks...
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Plastic Free July
Plastic Free July 2022: Will You Join the Challenge?
Uncategorized

Plastic Free July 2022: Will You Join the Challenge?

Monica McQuail / July 1, 2022
During the last couple of years, and especially during the heights of the pandemic, we have witnessed a drastic increase...
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Meet WCT’s 2022 Seasonal Interns
Education Interns, Co-Ops

Meet WCT’s 2022 Seasonal Interns

Communications Team / June 29, 2022
Internships are an integral part of Willistown Conservation Trust’s (WCT) work. Each year hardworking students join our team and bring...
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The Tale of Two Streams
Nature Science Watershed

The Tale of Two Streams

Anna Willig / June 25, 2022
Every four weeks, the Watershed Protection Program heads over to East Goshen to visit two branches of Ridley Creek near...
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A Cycle of Give and Take
Nature Watershed

A Cycle of Give and Take

Watershed Protection Team / June 24, 2022
By Watershed Protection Program Co-Op Sarah Busby Within our streams, there are many players that work to create a functioning,...
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Dragonflies: Nature’s Most Successful Predator
Nature Watershed

Dragonflies: Nature’s Most Successful Predator

Watershed Protection Team / June 23, 2022
By Watershed Protection Program Co-Op Sarah Busby With their flashy colors, compound eyes, and two sets of wings, dragonflies can...
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Beavers Beyond the Dam
Nature Watershed

Beavers Beyond the Dam

Watershed Protection Team / June 22, 2022
By Watershed Protection Program Co-Op Catherine Quinn Beavers are known and loved as one of North America’s favorite stream architects....
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Wetlands & Bogs: Aquatic Ecosystems Undercover
Nature Watershed

Wetlands & Bogs: Aquatic Ecosystems Undercover

Watershed Protection Team / June 21, 2022
By Watershed Protection Program Co-Op Catherine Quinn Wetlands are a critical ecosystem in the protection of our watersheds. But what...
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Welcome to Willistown Conservation Trust’s 2022 Creek Week Sponsored by Aqua!
Nature Watershed

Welcome to Willistown Conservation Trust’s 2022 Creek Week Sponsored by Aqua!

Lauren McGrath / June 20, 2022
Established in 2017 through a generous grant from the William Penn Foundation, the Watershed Protection Program Team has been working...
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Advocacy Alert! PA Growing Greener Would Invest Millions in Conservation and Outdoor Recreation
Conservation Land Protection Nature Stewardship

Advocacy Alert! PA Growing Greener Would Invest Millions in Conservation and Outdoor Recreation

Monica McQuail / June 1, 2022
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Currently, there is a proposal in the Pennsylvania General Assembly called Growing Greener 3, and its funding affects...
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Rushton Nature Keepers: Inspiring tomorrow’s conservationists
Education Nature Rushton Nature Keepers

Rushton Nature Keepers: Inspiring tomorrow’s conservationists

Blake Goll / May 31, 2022
In the midst of today’s chaotic pace and uncertainty, children need more than ever those timeless moments in nature...
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environmentaleducation, kidsandnature
Step Back in Time with Owen McGoldrick
Conservation Education Film Land Protection Nature Preserves Photography

Step Back in Time with Owen McGoldrick

Monica McQuail / May 24, 2022
All photos are currently on display and for sale in the Rushton Conservation Center, May 17 - August 28. INTRODUCTION...
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WCT Update: Promising News about Kirkwood Farm
Conservation Land Protection

WCT Update: Promising News about Kirkwood Farm

Kate Etherington / April 14, 2022
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Last month, I shared with you that Kirkwood Farm — a 218-acre parcel in the heart...
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Rushton Woods Banding Station Annual Songbird Banding Report 2021
Bird Banding Bird Conservation Uncategorized

Rushton Woods Banding Station Annual Songbird Banding Report 2021

Bird Conservation Team / April 7, 2022
By Alison Fetterman, Bird Conservation Associate & Northeast Motus Project Manager and Blake Goll, Education Programs Manager In April 2021,...
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Open Space and Water Quality | Lessons Learned from Three Years of Stream Monitoring
Uncategorized

Open Space and Water Quality | Lessons Learned from Three Years of Stream Monitoring

Watershed Protection Team / April 7, 2022
By Anna Willig, Watershed Conservation Associate and Lauren McGrath, Director of Watershed Protection Program Since 2018, the Watershed Protection Program...
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WCT Update on Rock Hill Farm
Conservation Land Protection

WCT Update on Rock Hill Farm

Kate Etherington / March 18, 2022
Dear Friends and Neighbors, I am writing to you once again with another important land protection update.  As many of...
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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.

Upcoming Events

30 March

Stewardship Volunteer Thursday

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01 April

Watershed Volunteer Day

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05 April
Rushton Conservation Center

Workshop: Spring Mindful Birding at Dusk

915 Delchester Road, Newtown Square, PA

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DONATE TODAY!

Invest in Nature! ENGAGE CONNECT SPONSOR LEAVE A LEGACY   If you would like to make a gift of securities, such as stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares, please contact us at 610-353-2562 for instructions. For more … Donate Today

CONTACT

925 Providence Road
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(610) 353-2562
land@wctrust.org

WHERE WE WORK

The work of the Willistown Conservation Trust is concentrated on 28,000 acres of Willistown Township … read more

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