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 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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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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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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Legacy of the Land: A History of Land Conservation in Willistown
Conservation Land Protection Nature

Legacy of the Land: A History of Land Conservation in Willistown

Communications Team / September 23, 2020
Trust’s Executive Director and co-founder Bonnie Van Alen, co-founder Alice Hausmann, and Director of Land Protection Erik Hetzel, discuss the...
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History of the Trails Team
Nature Nature Preserves Stewardship Trails Volunteers

History of the Trails Team

Communications Team / September 23, 2020
Besides its abundance of over 7,500 acres of countryside permanently protected from development, Willistown has long been known for its...
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Fifteen More Acres Protected Forever!
Conservation Land Protection Uncategorized

Fifteen More Acres Protected Forever!

Communications Team / September 22, 2020
The final conservation chapter to the 15-acre Stonehedge Farm at Plumsock and Goshen Roads in Willistown has finally concluded. The...
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The Wings of Change
Bird Banding Bird Conservation Bird ecology

The Wings of Change

Blake Goll / September 19, 2020
Our banding station has been operating for fall migration for the past three weeks, and change is evident...
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Bird banding, Connecticut Warbler, fall migration, land conservation, migration
Unraveling the Mysteries of Migration with Motus Technology
Bird Banding Bird Conservation Bird Events Conservation Motus Nature Owls

Unraveling the Mysteries of Migration with Motus Technology

Kelsey Lingle / September 14, 2020
Since 2017 the Trust’s Bird Conservation Team along with its partners (the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, Project...
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Conservation Celebration  September 21 – 25
Uncategorized

Conservation Celebration September 21 – 25

Blake Goll / September 14, 2020
A week of celebrating the many groups that support the important work at the Trust. Be on the lookout for...
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The Wonder Twins
Farm Interns, Co-Ops Sustainable Agriculture

The Wonder Twins

Fred De Long / August 28, 2020
It was a warm day in mid-June and summer was right around the corner when Abby and Anna showed up...
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Watershed Department Bids Farewell to Drexel Co-ops
Academic Partners Interns, Co-Ops Watershed

Watershed Department Bids Farewell to Drexel Co-ops

Lauren McGrath / August 28, 2020
"When my co-op at Willistown Conservation Trust began at the beginning of April, I had no idea what to expect...
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co-op, Drexel University, watershed protection
Planting in Fall
Native Plants native wildflower meadow Stewardship

Planting in Fall

Mike Cranney / August 27, 2020
The most significant benefit of planting in the fall is the jump-start it gives plants to get their roots established.
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Fall planting, Native Plants
“The Secret Life of the Skunk”
Lunch & Learn Nature Education

“The Secret Life of the Skunk”

Communications Team / August 25, 2020
Kate Garchinsky reads “The Secret Life of the Skunk” by Laurence Pringle. Kate is the talented artist of this book...
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Motus Wildlife Tracking System – A Tutorial
Bird Conservation Motus

Motus Wildlife Tracking System – A Tutorial

Bird Conservation Team / August 10, 2020
Learn about the Motus Wildlife tracking system by watching this slideshow. You'll learn about the technology, the network, and its...
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Tomato Tasting Recipes
Farm Tomato Tasting

Tomato Tasting Recipes

Kelsey Lingle / July 22, 2020
Can't make it to our Tomato Tasting event? Join us in spirit and celebrate tomato season by making our favorite...
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How to Safely Pick Up Plastic Litter
Conservation Watershed

How to Safely Pick Up Plastic Litter

Lauren McGrath / July 21, 2020
It is that time of year again – Plastic Free July!  In case you missed our previous blog posts on...
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Plastic Free July Tips
Conservation Watershed

Plastic Free July Tips

Lauren McGrath / July 14, 2020
Welcome to another year of Plastic Free July! To say that this year is a little unusual would be an...
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Nesting Birds in Your Yard
Bird Conservation Bird Events Nature

Nesting Birds in Your Yard

Communications Team / July 9, 2020
Did you notice more birds than usual this spring around your yard? Watch the video of this this virtual event...
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Plastic Free July in the Age of COVID-19
Conservation Watershed

Plastic Free July in the Age of COVID-19

Watershed Protection Team / July 2, 2020
As we launch into Plastic Free July, we find it particularly challenging in the presence of COVID-19, when retailers seem...
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clean water, ecology, environment, plastic free, pollution
Why Donating is Important
agroecology Farm Sustainable Agriculture

Why Donating is Important

Fred De Long / June 29, 2020
A farmer’s primary job is to provide. Provide not just to those who can afford food, but those who cannot.
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Stewardship Volunteer Program – Update!
Nature Preserves Stewardship Volunteers

Stewardship Volunteer Program – Update!

Mike Cranney / June 29, 2020
Set up a time with our Stewardship Team to come out and safely volunteer at our preserves!
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Fireflies, Moths, and Your Yard in the Dark
Nature

Fireflies, Moths, and Your Yard in the Dark

Communications Team / June 25, 2020
If you missed our Fireflies, Moths, and Your Yard in the Dark presentation, watch the video to learn about our...
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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

25 March

Partner Event | CRC’s 25th Annual Streams Cleanup

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25 March

Partner Event | 2023 Watershed Congress

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30 March

Stewardship Volunteer Thursday

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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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