WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST

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  • Rushton Conservation Center

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

November 22, 2021 By Monica McQuail

Of the 16 acres, nine will be added to the Trust’s Kirkwood Preserve

Willistown Conservation Trust is pleased to announce that up to nine acres will be added to Kirkwood Preserve, and seven acres surrounding the public nature preserve will ultimately be permanently protected with a conservation easement, thanks to a partnership with Delchester Group Inc. (DGI). Through the protection of the 16 acres, the Trust is forever preserving both critical bird habitat and an important piece of history within the Willistown countryside.

The 16-acre property – commonly known as the “Massey Farm” or the “Alpaca Barn” – can be found on Grubbs Mill Road, where it has gone on and off the market for the past couple of years. When the Trust and DGI learned that a developer from out of town was proposing to purchase the land and build up to four homes on Grubbs Mill and Goshen Roads, they knew they had to act quickly. Surrounded by conserved open space, public preserves, and the adjacent Historic White Horse Corner, development would be devastating to the natural and historic landscape of Willistown. DGI’s community of investors purchased the property in September; the Trust plans to purchase nine acres from DGI through private and public fundraising, and DGI will hold the remaining seven acres until the group finds a conservation buyer willing to preserve the property’s beauty, rural character, and open space. 

  • The Alpaca Farm (when it had alpacas) in 2003 | Photo by Jennifer Mathes
  • 9 acres of the property will be added to Kirkwood Preserve | Photo by Jennifer Mathes

The Trust’s nine acres will allow Kirkwood Preserve to expand across Grubbs Mill Road, with new public walking trails anticipated. Additionally, this parcel is part of the Upper Ridley/Crum Important Bird Area, and its rich habitat has been identified by the Audubon Society as critical for bird conservation. The grasslands on this property are vital for nesting birds. Listed as a Class II historic resource by Willistown Township, its conservation also preserves the history and legacy of Thomas Massey who purchased the land among 500 acres in 1699, and later passed it on to his son, James Massey who built the “James Massey House” (c.1790) and historic barn that exist on the property today.

The Trust intends to refurbish this Chester County, stone-posted bank barn, in addition to hosting many volunteer days at this site to clean up debris, remove invasive plant species, and spruce up the outdoor spaces around the barn and other structures. Stay tuned for a future volunteer day!

Filed Under: Conservation, Land Protection

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

October 25, 2021 By Blake Goll

By Blake Goll, Education Programs Manager and Erik Hetzel, Director of Land Protection

Photos by Blake Goll

Meandering along the cool wood chip paths beneath the varied canopy of beech, oak, and cherry trees, your eyes dance with the dappled light around the myriad understory shrubs­—first settling on this glossy leaved plant, then darting upwards to those feathered shadows that flit and call among the boughs above—and you almost forget that this dynamic nature escape is someone’s backyard.

There are an estimated 40-50 million acres of manicured lawn in the United States today (including residential, roadsides, and golf courses); this represents a significant loss in plant and habitat diversity that is necessary to support wildlife in these spaces. While we historically might have been able to justify this simplified approach to our green spaces, many of us now feel compelled to do more. Unsustainable human population growth coupled with harrowing reports of the planet having lost 30% of all birds since 1970 are a call to action. Fortunately, as Marianne Price’s property proves, with the right planning, the average American yard can easily contribute significantly to insect and bird populations.

It all starts with selecting native plant species to support a healthy food web (i.e., insects!).  A keystone species like a native oak tree, for example, is a major driver of Pennsylvania food webs; 511 species of our native caterpillars use oak trees as their host plant! When you consider that the majority of our songbirds raise their chicks on caterpillars, the value of native plants is clear. By contrast, a nonnative gingko tree supports only about 5 caterpillar species. 

  • Marianne Price

“My husband Karl and I bought this place in 1972 after the previous owner passed away,” Marianne explains. “He wanted the buyer to be someone who would take care of the property for the wild birds he loved so much. He’s the one who began stewarding this yard with native trees. I kept nurturing the trees and planting more, because I wanted to keep my word, and I’ve done just that. Here I am almost at the 50 year anniversary!” she gleams. Marianne has continued to care for this one-acre ecosystem, single-handedly taking on the responsibilities after Karl passed in 2007.

Marianne’s devotion to stewarding the property now extends well into the future, thanks to her commitment to conserving the land with Willistown Conservation Trust. Using a Legacy Easement, which is specifically designed for smaller properties like hers, Marianne approached the Trust’s Land Protection Program earlier this year. Director of Land Protection Erik Hetzel recalls, “I visited her property on a sunny October morning and was greeted by an oasis of nature in a suburban neighborhood. The place was buzzing with pollinators and birds.”

  • Erik Hetzel, Sue Costello and Marianne Price

The terms of Marianne’s easements are relatively simple, focusing on the preservation of native tree species, including vital species like the native oak that supports a myriad of caterpillar and bird species. The Trust’s Legacy Easement program uses a simplified easement model to conserve lands that might not be effectively protected by other means, such as through deed restrictions or covenants between neighboring property owners. This unique program opens the door for landowners with smaller properties to become conservationists in a new way, one that is more accessible. And Marianne’s easement will ensure the lasting stewardship of the habitat that she has nurtured over the last 50 years.

Like legacy easements, part of the reason why Marianne’s little sanctuary is so inspiring is that emulating it is doable. She is a plant enthusiast and has fun experimenting with different species and cultivars that are not all native. Experts say that even if you strive for 70% native plant biomass and allow the other 30% to be other (noninvasive) plants of interest, you can still contribute to the growth of suburban bird populations like chickadees. It does not have to be an all or nothing effort. The average American lawn can easily attract at least 50 kinds of beautiful and interesting birds with the right planning!

With a keen eye for sustainability, Marianne even strives to make her watering practices environmentally friendly.  Although her diverse landscape of hardy perennials, shrubs, and deep-rooted trees requires less water that a typical Kentucky bluegrass lawn, she still needs to water during dry spells. She cleverly collects the used “gray water” from her air conditioning unit, de-humidifier, and even her laundry washing machine! She pumps this reusable water into covered storage barrels tucked around her property for watering.

Finally, when you consider that each hour of lawn mowing generates as much pollution as driving a car nearly 100 miles, it also becomes apparent how a property like Marianne’s demonstrates a more carbon neutral solution to an all-lawn landscape. From saving water and reducing carbon emissions to contributing to biodiversity, Marianne is truly an inspiration to us all — proving that an average-sized suburban landscape can be transformed from a uniform green patch to an alluring conservation oasis. 

Blake Goll | she/her | Education Programs Manager | Blake plays a big role in the Trust’s Bird Conservation Program, as well as the outreach and educational initiatives as the coordinator for Rushton Nature Keepers program.

Erik Hetzel | he/him | Director of Land Protection and Public Grants | As part of our Land Protection Program, Erik handles the acquisition of private conservation easements and public lands to add to our nature preserves.

—-

Legacy Easements open the door for landowners with smaller properties to become conservationists in a new way.  To learn more about how you can be a part of the conservation movement with a Legacy Easement on your property, contact Erik Hetzel at ewh@wctrust.org.

Filed Under: Conservation, Land Protection, Native Plants

Flooding 101

August 23, 2021 By Anna Willig

As we approach the last few weeks of summer heat and humidity, we approach peak seasons for thunderstorms and flooding. Last Thursday, heavy rainfalls led to the first major flood of the year in our area. At Ashbridge Preserve, Ridley Creek rose over 2 meters (7 feet) in about 3 hours, pouring out of its banks. In the wake of these floods, we wanted to take the opportunity to answer some commonly asked questions about the fundamentals of flooding.

What is a flood?

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) defines a flood as “any relatively high streamflow overtopping the natural or artificial banks in any reach of a stream” (USGS, 2019). In other words, a flood happens when a stream breaches its banks, resulting in water flowing over areas that are not normally part of the stream. Floods can occur for a number of reasons, from snow melt to rain to changes in tides. In our area, the most common cause of flooding is rain, often from summer storms, and snow melt after large snowfalls.

Ridley Creek before (left) and during (left) a flood at Ashbridge Preserve in 2018. Photos by author.

How frequently do floods occur? 

Floods can occur several times a year, whenever rain or snowmelt causes a stream to overflow its banks. Small floods, when the stream barely breaches its banks, are more common than large floods when the water pours out of its banks.

The size of a flood is determined by the peak flow of a stream or the greatest amount of water moving through the stream during a flood event. Peak flow can be determined by measuring the height of a stream; it is the highest height during the flood event. Higher peak flows indicate larger floods and lower peak flows indicate smaller floods.

This graph shows water depth over time and nine floods that happened at Ashbridge Preserve in the Summer of 2018. The blue line represents the depth at which the stream completely fills its bank–a flood occurs any time the water rises above this depth. Each spike represents a rainstorm and the peak flow, which determines the size of a flood, is the highest depth in each storm. The star represents the peak flow of the flood that is pictured above.   

Floods are classified by how often we expect them to occur. A 100-year flood is a flood of a given size that has a 1% chance of occurring each year. Similarly, a 500-year flood has a 0.2% chance of occurring each year and a 1000-year flood has a 0.1% chance of occurring each year. However, this does not mean that a 100-year flood will only occur once every 100 years or that a 1000-year flood will occur once every 1000 years. It simply refers to the likelihood of such a flood happening each year. 

How do you stay safe during a flood?

Floods in our area can be dangerous, even life-threatening. According to a recently completed Hazard Risk Assessment by Chester County, flooding is the second highest risk hazard in the county. Floods can damage property, destroy roads and bridges, and threaten human lives. 

Floodwaters are most dangerous for drivers, especially when drivers try to cross flooded roads. Twelve inches of flowing water will move a car, and 2 feet of water will easily sweep a car away. Even just a few inches of water can immobilize a car, stranding drivers in the middle of a road. If you are driving during a rainstorm, do not drive through any floodwater. Floodwater is often dark and murky, making it difficult to judge how much water is actually on the road and if the water is flowing. Turn around and find another route or pull over and wait until the water goes down.

Want to learn more about flooding?

Stay tuned next week for Flooding 102, which takes a deeper dive into how land use decisions impact flooding in our area. Until then, check out some of these resources:

  • Monitor streams in Pennsylvania for real-time flooding: Streamflow conditions 
  • Check out real-time stream monitoring data in Ridley and Crum Creeks near Willistown: EnviroDIY Sensor Stations
  • Learn more about flood risk and historical flooding in Chester County: Risk Assessment – Flood, Flash Flood, Ice Jam
  • Learn more about how to stay safe during a flood: Turn Around Don’t Drown

USGS. (2019). Floods and Recurrence Intervals: Overview [Techniques and Methods]. USGS.
https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/floods-and-recurrence-intervals?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects

Filed Under: Conservation, Education, Land Protection, Science, Watershed Tagged With: pollution

Shining a Light on a Different Type of Stream Pollution

August 11, 2021 By Zack Smith

Lights are everywhere around us and have many uses, often at night, that benefit our health and safety. We put lights on our cars, buildings, and roads, often neglecting to understand their full effect beyond their positive impact on human life. While lights may make us feel more comfortable in our surroundings, they have been known to negatively impact other species in our environment through the process of light pollution. 

Light pollution occurs when the excessive use of light creates an overwhelming glow in the night sky that brightens the natural environment, often exceeding even the bright glow of a full moon. This form of pollution is all encompassing, as 83% of the world population lives in an area that experiences light pollution. In the USA and Europe, 99% of the population lives under a polluted night sky. If you are interested in seeing what light pollution looks like in your hometown, check out this website. 

This image from https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/ shows the potential pollution caused by lights in residential areas. All lights are used to light a specified area, but as seen in the image above, more areas outside of the area to be lit also experience glare.

Researchers have observed nocturnal animals that rely on dark skies and lunar cycles will change their activity levels in areas with more light pollution. Animal behavior has adapted to natural conditions over millions of years, and when we suddenly put in millions of lights, we are changing the environment species need to thrive. Perhaps the most common example of this is the case of the sea turtle. Hatching sea turtles rely heavily on the moon to find the ocean shortly after emerging. In highly polluted areas, the lights from the land often mimic or overpower the moon and deceive the babies, leading them towards land where they are bound to get hit by cars, eaten by predators, or starve to death (Longcore & Rich, 2004). 

Locally, different species feel the burden of light pollution. Studies on streams across the USA have shown that light pollution near streams can change the makeup of insect populations in and around streams. Streamside studies where artificial light pollution was introduced demonstrated that important spiders often living in riparian zones decreased in abundance, as did the diversity of aquatic insects, by as much as 16%. Light pollution near streams also led to a decrease in size in emerging insects by approximately 76% (Meyer & Sullivan, 2013).  

Changing conditions in streams can have a large ripple effect outside of the water, too. With individuals disappearing and shrinking in size, predators, like fish and birds, may have to consume larger quantities of smaller insects to meet their energy needs. Consuming more small insects can strain predators as they use additional energy to look for larger numbers of smaller prey. Less optimal food for these species can lead to decreased survival, further contorting the food web. 

In addition to changes within the stream corridor, light pollution brings many pressures to terrestrial insect communities. Bright lights are known to attract flying insects outside of streams – think of your porch light and all the insects that fly near it at night. This attracts more predators, such as bats, that feed on vulnerable species of insects near these lights. While some predators suffer because of light pollution, species like bats can benefit based on different behaviors in different areas. 

The map above shows the light pollution levels in Southeast PA. Philadelphia, a major city center, has incredibly high levels of light. Locally, West Chester, Marple, and Media all exert high levels of light pollution, as compared with the Trust’s program area, which experiences lower levels of light pollution thanks to lower development levels. These lower light levels can be attributed to protected lands. 

While avoiding light pollution is incredibly unlikely, there are solutions and actions we can take to minimize its effect on wildlife globally. At home, turning off bright outdoor lights or getting an automatic light can decrease light output. When choosing lights, picking lights that effectively target an area to be lit is important, as ineffective lights can cast a glow beyond the anticipated area and pollute more space than necessary. Within our communities, we can advocate for darker nights by telling our towns and cities to turn off unnecessary public lighting on buildings and in public spaces, much like Philadelphia did this last spring. As for protecting our waterways, planting and maintaining a healthy riparian buffer can go a long way in shielding waters from harmful light pollution. Thick plant growth will block incoming light and help keep our streams at lower light levels, ensuring aquatic insects, fish, and other riparian organisms can thrive. 

Citations:

Light pollution effects on wildlife and ecosystems. International Dark-Sky Association. (2016, September 12). https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/wildlife/. 

Longcore, T., & Rich, C. (2004). Ecological light pollution. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2(4), 191-198.

Meyer, L. A., & Sullivan, S. M. P. (2013). Bright lights, big city: influences of ecological light pollution on reciprocal stream–riparian invertebrate fluxes. Ecological applications, 23(6), 1322-1330.

Header Image Eco Watch

Filed Under: Conservation, Education, Land Protection, Science, Watershed Tagged With: pollution

Celebrating Preservation Month

May 25, 2021 By Erik Hetzel

TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF LAND CONSERVATION IN THE WILLISTOWN COUNTRYSIDE

The Biden administration recently declared a national goal to conserve at least 30% of U.S. lands and freshwater, and another 30% of U.S. ocean areas by 2030. This initiative, referred to as 30×30, proposes an America the Beautiful campaign, described by the administration as a “ten-year, locally led campaign to conserve and restore the lands and waters upon which we all depend, and that bind us together as Americans.” It is through this lens that we reflect on the history of land conservation in the Willistown countryside.

The history of conservation under the auspices of Willistown Conservation Trust spans the past 40 years, but really, it’s based in a conservation ethic that goes back many years prior. It is a story of generations of people caring deeply for the land, with a passion for protecting it, not just to save open space, but to preserve the rich natural resources of our woodlands, rolling fields and stream valleys to benefit wildlife – and to share a deep connection to nature with people of all ages and backgrounds. It is a story that could not have happened without the loyal support – both moral and financial, of so many – for which all of us at the Trust are immensely grateful.

  • Willistown Program Area
  • The Willistown Countryside

Our program area consists of an oasis of interconnected open spaces, once referred to as Radnor Hunt country. Today it is defined by the headwaters of the Ridley, Crum and Darby creeks. It encompasses all of Willistown Township and parts of East Goshen, and Eastown Townships in Chester County, and portions of Newtown and Edgemont Townships in Delaware County. In its entirety, it comprises an area totaling approximately 28,000 acres, or almost 44 square miles.

Our 40-year history can be viewed in four important segments: the first being the early years under the umbrella of the Brandywine Conservancy in the 1980s; second, the establishment of Willistown Conservation Trust as its own independent organization; third, a period of growth that saw the expansion of land protection efforts resulting in hundreds of acres of preserved lands; and fourth, the emergence of our outreach and research programs.

In the beginning, it was the vision of our current executive director Bonnie Van Alen, along with her colleague and friend Kathe McCoy, to apply the principles of land conservation that were being used at the Brandywine Conservancy to lands in the Willistown countryside that were under threat of development. At that time, Brandywine Conservancy was being led by iconic conservationist Frolic Weymouth, whose legacy of land protection has inspired legions of conservationists to preserve the natural and cultural resources that make our area unique.

  • Kathe McCoy, Frolic Weymouth and Bonnie Van Alen
  • The Inaugural Board Meeting
  • Alice Hausmann and Bonnie Van Alen

Alice Hausmann joined the effort in 1985 and has been integral to the success of our organization ever since. It was in these early years that the Willistown Area Conservation Program was established, introducing the conservation projects that would eventually result in the creation of the Willistown Conservation Trust as we know it today.

The second segment of our organization’s history is marked by the “official” formation of the Willistown Conservation Trust as its own independent entity in 1996, with the blessing and encouragement of the Brandywine Conservancy.

In the early years, WCT occupied the “Blacksmith Shop” at White Horse Corner. We then moved across the street to the “Saddle Shop” before moving to our current office location in the farmhouse at 925 Providence Road, just south of White Horse Corner.

  • White Horse Corner Painting
  • Early Land Protection Staff Added
  • 925 Providence Road

This brings us to the third segment of our history, which was a period of vigorous growth in our land protection efforts through the early 2000s. We added land protection and stewardship staff, along with other positions to support our growing organization.

At this time, we were still primarily focused on land protection, i.e., getting private properties under easement. It was also during this time that we were acquiring lands that would eventually become our preserves at Ashbridge, Rushton Woods and Kirkwood.

This solid foundation of protected lands set the stage for the fourth and current era in the history of the Trust. During this time, we saw the emergence and evolution of our robust outreach and research programs, starting with the creation of Rushton Farm in 2008.

Rushton Farm

  • Rushton Farm
  • Bird Program
  • Watershed Program

Under the direction of Fred DeLong, the farm occupies six acres of tillable land at the Rushton Woods Preserve. Rushton Farm is a community magnet, with a Community Supported Agricultural (CSA) operation at its core. The food grown at Rushton is enjoyed by CSA members who support the operation financially. Many also volunteer at the farm.

In addition, every week, in season, Fred takes a truckload of food to the West Chester Food Cupboard. Underpinning all of this, the farm is an agroecology laboratory and a demonstration platform for innovating and testing sustainable agricultural practices.

Bird Program

Lisa Kiziuk leads our Bird Program, which began as a banding station that has evolved into a full-blown research operation. The program is recognized internationally for sharing its valuable data about bird health, migration patterns and the importance of habitat preservation.

Watershed Program

Watershed Program Director Lauren McGrath studies the health of the watersheds in our program area (Ridley, Crum and Darby Creeks). Information gathered on the flora, fauna and hydrologic conditions of the creeks is sent to shared regional databases to help paint a bigger picture about the health of our waterways, which are an important source of drinking water for our region.

Education Programs

  • Education Programs
  • Rushton Conservation Center

Willistown’s protected lands are unique experiential learning places that make the study of science, ecology and agriculture come alive for students of all ages. Under the leadership of Education Programs Manager Blake Goll, these conserved open spaces are used to explore the connections among land, farm, birds, habitat and water. People come here to study our practices and model solutions for healthy food systems, bird conservation, habitat restoration and improved water quality. They are drawn to this special place to learn, become inspired and leave with a deeper commitment to save land and serve as stewards of our natural world. Over 1,000 children and adults participate in the Trust’s education programs annually.

Rushton Conservation Center

Our newest program is the Rushton Conservation Center, which extends our community reach even further. This building is a new addition to the Rushton Woods Preserve. It was finished in 2018 and is designed to host educational events, seminars, community gatherings and farm-to-table dinners, centered on themes connected to our mission. Lindsay Carlson is the program director at the RCC.

Where Do We Go From Here?

  • Conserved Lands in Willistown in 1979
  • Conserved Lands in Willistown Today, 2021

The growth of our organization and expansion of our special programs has not changed our core mission of Land Protection and Stewardship, currently under the direction of Erik Hetzel and Andrew Kirkpatrick, respectively. As committed as we have been to conservation over the last 40 years, we remain ever vigilant in our land preservation efforts and are inspired and energized by the “30×30” goal. While conservation happens locally, it has far reaching national and global impacts that we are only now beginning to understand. We look forward to the next chapter in our history as we strive to help achieve the ambitious vision of 30×30, and continue to devote ourselves to conservation for many years to come.

Filed Under: Conservation, Land Protection, Nature at Night, Stewardship, Uncategorized

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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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