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.

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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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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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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Nature at Night: Ornithology 101 (Part 1&2)
Bird Banding Bird Conservation Bird Events Nature at Night

Nature at Night: Ornithology 101 (Part 1&2)

Communications Team / March 19, 2021
Join Blake Goll, Education Programs Manager, for a virtual two-part session that introduces the study of birds. We will begin...
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The Wonderful Women of Willistown!
Women's History Month

The Wonderful Women of Willistown!

Kate Etherington / March 3, 2021
Celebrating Women in Conservation: Past, Present, and Future Willistown Conservation Trust Co-Founders Alice Hausmann and Bonnie Van Alen. This March...
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For the Love of Birds
Bird Banding Bird Conservation Bird ecology Bird Events Nature

For the Love of Birds

Blake Goll / February 26, 2021
Join Blake Goll, Education Programs Manager, for a virtual session that introduced birds through the lens of why we love...
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Bird Conservation, Birds
Nature at Night: Let’s Get Growing!
agroecology Farm Nature at Night Sustainable Agriculture

Nature at Night: Let’s Get Growing!

Kelsey Lingle / February 26, 2021
Join the Rushton Farm Staff for an informative look at starting seeds for the upcoming season. We will look at...
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The Bees of Rushton Farm: A Pollinator Perspective on Willistown Conservation Trust & Environmental Education
agroecology Farm Native Plants Nature Science

The Bees of Rushton Farm: A Pollinator Perspective on Willistown Conservation Trust & Environmental Education

Benjamin Reynard / February 13, 2021
One Sunny midsummer day in 2012 on Rushton Farm, the bees decided to swarm. Noah, a certified apiarist--and the sustainable...
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Flappy Hour: Black Vultures in the Backyard
Bird Conservation Conservation Flappy Hour

Flappy Hour: Black Vultures in the Backyard

Kelsey Lingle / January 15, 2021
We are excited to welcome Bracken Brown, Biologist-Naturalist at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, to join us and discuss the Black Vulture....
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Road Salt and Its Impact on Fresh Water
Conservation Lunch & Learn Science Watershed

Road Salt and Its Impact on Fresh Water

Evan Hunt / January 12, 2021
As winter quickly approaches so does the threat of salt pollution. Since the 1940s, salt has been the number one...
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Winter Solstice
Stewardship

Winter Solstice

Andrew Kirkpatrick / December 21, 2020
Solar system planets set. The Sun and planets in a row on the universe stars background. Elements of this image...
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Celebrating 11 Years of Bird Banding at Rushton Woods Preserve
Bird Banding Bird Conservation

Celebrating 11 Years of Bird Banding at Rushton Woods Preserve

Blake Goll / December 16, 2020
Established in 2009 with a grant from the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC), our banding station has been a huge...
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Bird banding, bird banding data, bird migration
A New Path Forward – Our Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Uncategorized

A New Path Forward – Our Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Communications Team / December 4, 2020
Dear Friends, It has been nearly six months since I wrote to you about the tragic death of George Floyd...
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Giving Thanks to the Okehocking People
Uncategorized

Giving Thanks to the Okehocking People

Mike Cranney / November 23, 2020
With Thanksgiving approaching, it is an appropriate time to reflect upon our connection with the indigenous people who first lived...
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Flappy Hour: Secrets of the Saw-whet Owl
Uncategorized

Flappy Hour: Secrets of the Saw-whet Owl

Communications Team / November 13, 2020
The Trust has been studying the populations of this small migratory owl for the past 10 years as part of...
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Kirkwood Sign Dedication
Conservation Land Protection Nature Preserves Trails

Kirkwood Sign Dedication

Erik Hetzel / November 4, 2020
Fifteen years ago, the 83-acre Kirkwood Preserve was established thanks to a public/private partnership that included Willistown Conservation Trust, Willistown...
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The Old Salt
agroecology Farm

The Old Salt

Fred De Long / October 29, 2020
Noah and I have learned a lot from the “old salts” who entertained us as we grew up. We have...
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Help Us Meet the Challenge!
Uncategorized

Help Us Meet the Challenge!

Chelsea Heck / October 29, 2020
Are you a friend of the Trust but have never donated or have you supported the Trust in the past...
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From Tops of Trees to the Base of the Food Chain
Nature Science Watershed

From Tops of Trees to the Base of the Food Chain

Lauren McGrath / October 13, 2020
There is a chill in the air and the leaves are starting to turn, signaling that fall is here! Have...
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Nature at Night: Flappy Hour, Using Motus to Track the Flight Path of an Avian Biologist
Bird Banding Bird Conservation Bird Events Flappy Hour Motus Nature at Night Uncategorized

Nature at Night: Flappy Hour, Using Motus to Track the Flight Path of an Avian Biologist

Communications Team / October 9, 2020
Meet Shelly Eshleman, our newest Motus team member and bird conservation biologist as she describes her path to working for...
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Join Us for a Pop-Up Picnic Dinner to Help Kick Off Art on the Trails
Farm General Nature Preserves Sustainable Agriculture Trails Uncategorized

Join Us for a Pop-Up Picnic Dinner to Help Kick Off Art on the Trails

Kelsey Lingle / October 8, 2020
A week-long event Art on the Trails: Preserve Gallery Walk with a pop-up picnic dinner on the lawn at the Rushton Conservation...
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Trails Workshops (Part 1 & 2)
Nature Nature Preserves Stewardship Trails

Trails Workshops (Part 1 & 2)

Communications Team / September 28, 2020
Do you love trails? We do! Willistown Conservation Trust is offering virtual trails workshops! Hosted by Andrew Kirkpatrick, Director of...
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Mapping the Ashbridge Tree Planting
Nature Stewardship Tree Planting

Mapping the Ashbridge Tree Planting

Evan Hunt / September 23, 2020
The most important part of a tree planting usually comes after the trees are in the ground.  Recently planted trees...
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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

02 February

Winter Stewardship Volunteer Days | Contact us to Join!

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09 February

Winter Stewardship Volunteer Days | Contact us to Join!

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10 February
Rushton Conservation Center

Rejuvenate at Rushton Wellness Retreat

915 Delchester Road, Newtown Square, PA

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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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