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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Women in Agriculture: Testimonials from Rushton Farmers
agroecology Farm Interns, Co-Ops Staff

Women in Agriculture: Testimonials from Rushton Farmers

Molly Clark / March 7, 2022
In honor of Women's History Month, we are going to hear from the women farmers -- previous staff, interns, and...
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Women in Agriculture: The Future of Sustainable Farming
agroecology Farm

Women in Agriculture: The Future of Sustainable Farming

Molly Clark / March 7, 2022
Women’s history month is an excellent time to draw attention to the significant, yet historically underappreciated, role that women play...
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Rethinking Lawns: Fighting Climate Change with Native Plants
Native Plants native wildflower meadow Nature Stewardship

Rethinking Lawns: Fighting Climate Change with Native Plants

Monica McQuail / February 28, 2022
By Monica McQuail, Willistown Conservation Trust Communications Specialist Photos by Blake Goll, Willistown Conservation Trust Education Programs Manager With the...
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WCT Update on Kirkwood Farm
Conservation Land Protection

WCT Update on Kirkwood Farm

Kate Etherington / February 24, 2022
Dear Friends and Neighbors, For over 25 years, land protection has been the core of Willistown Conservation Trust’s (WCT) mission....
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The Rhythm of Winged Creatures
Bird Banding Bird Conservation

The Rhythm of Winged Creatures

Blake Goll / February 9, 2022
Rushton Farm Bird Banding Station | Annual Year in Review 2021
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Bird banding, Bird Conservation, migration, regenerative farming, songbirds
The Trust Teams up with Project Plastic at Ashbridge Preserve to Clean Up Microplastics Using Innovative Device: The Plastic Hunter
Science Watershed

The Trust Teams up with Project Plastic at Ashbridge Preserve to Clean Up Microplastics Using Innovative Device: The Plastic Hunter

Monica McQuail / February 1, 2022
Last year we learned that Microplastic Pollution is No Small Problem, after our Watershed Protection Program discovered the dangerous presence...
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The Trust Receives 525K from DCNR for Land Conservation
Land Protection

The Trust Receives 525K from DCNR for Land Conservation

Monica McQuail / January 4, 2022
We have exciting news to share! The Trust will soon receive two grants from PA DCNR to further land conservation...
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Beaver Business
Nature Preserves Science Watershed

Beaver Business

Anna Willig / January 4, 2022
Please Note: The Watershed Protection Team is excited to welcome our newest team member and encourages all visitors to keep...
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Bird Conservation Group Receives Funding from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Track Important Migratory Routes along the Northeast
Bird Conservation Motus

Bird Conservation Group Receives Funding from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Track Important Migratory Routes along the Northeast

Monica McQuail / December 1, 2021
The ability of scientists to track migrating animals as small as hummingbirds and butterflies along the Atlantic Coast will take...
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Willistown Conservation Trust and Delchester Group Inc. Partner to Permanently Protect 16 Acres on Grubbs Mill Road
Conservation Land Protection

Willistown Conservation Trust and Delchester Group Inc. Partner to Permanently Protect 16 Acres on Grubbs Mill Road

Monica McQuail / November 22, 2021
Of the 16 acres, nine will be added to the Trust’s Kirkwood Preserve Willistown Conservation Trust is pleased to announce...
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Connecting Students to Bird Conservation
Bird Banding Bird Conservation Education

Connecting Students to Bird Conservation

Blake Goll / November 17, 2021
I had the fortune to connect with a group of such educators who dedicated time during the pandemic to exploring...
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AIM Academy, Bird boxes, Bird Conservation, environmental education
A Macroinvertebrate’s Thanksgiving Feast
Amphibian conservation Nature Science Watershed

A Macroinvertebrate’s Thanksgiving Feast

Anna Willig / November 16, 2021
Each fall, trees provide a veritable Thanksgiving Feast for aquatic macroinvertebrates. They spend the whole spring and summer preparing this...
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A Suburban Nature Lover Seeks Legacy Easement to Protect Her Native Plant Oasis
Conservation Land Protection Native Plants

A Suburban Nature Lover Seeks Legacy Easement to Protect Her Native Plant Oasis

Blake Goll / October 25, 2021
By Blake Goll, Education Programs Manager and Erik Hetzel, Director of Land Protection Photos by Blake Goll Meandering along the...
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A Rushton Nature Keeper “Graduate” Restores Historic Bluebird Trail to Willistown
Bird ecology Rushton Nature Keepers Staff Trails Volunteers

A Rushton Nature Keeper “Graduate” Restores Historic Bluebird Trail to Willistown

Blake Goll / October 25, 2021
By Education Programs Manager Blake Goll Photos by Blake Goll Almost ten years ago, a little girl named Siana Christaldi...
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Volunteer Spotlight: Eagle Scout Will Hetzel Leads Troop 106 in Building Bog Bridges at Ashbridge Preserve
Staff Stewardship Trails Volunteers

Volunteer Spotlight: Eagle Scout Will Hetzel Leads Troop 106 in Building Bog Bridges at Ashbridge Preserve

Andrew Kirkpatrick / October 25, 2021
By Director of Stewardship Andrew Kirkpatrick Photos by Director of Land Protection Erik Hetzel It has been over five years...
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Honoring Bonnie’s Legacy and Looking to Willistown Conservation Trust’s Future
General Land Protection Staff

Honoring Bonnie’s Legacy and Looking to Willistown Conservation Trust’s Future

Monica McQuail / October 5, 2021
Within the ever growing area of Chester County lies a hidden swath of land that sits in stark contrast to...
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Flooding 102
Watershed

Flooding 102

Anna Willig / August 30, 2021
Flooding 102 Last week we looked at the basics of flooding, learning about what constitutes a flood and how floods...
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Flooding 101
Conservation Education Land Protection Science Watershed

Flooding 101

Anna Willig / August 23, 2021
As we approach the last few weeks of summer heat and humidity, we approach peak seasons for thunderstorms and flooding....
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pollution
Shining a Light on a Different Type of Stream Pollution
Conservation Education Land Protection Science Watershed

Shining a Light on a Different Type of Stream Pollution

Zack Smith / August 11, 2021
Lights are everywhere around us and have many uses, often at night, that benefit our health and safety. We put...
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pollution
Wildflowers at our Nature Preserves
native wildflower meadow Nature Nature Preserves wildflower meadow

Wildflowers at our Nature Preserves

Mike Cranney / July 8, 2021
Across all of our preserves and properties, Willistown Conservation Trust boasts unique habitat supporting a wide variety of native wildflowers....
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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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