WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST

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Trails Workshops (Part 1 & 2)

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Do you love trails? We do! Willistown Conservation Trust is offering virtual trails workshops! Hosted by Andrew Kirkpatrick, Director of Stewardship and Mike Cranney, Preserve Manager, they’ll be discussing trail planning, construction, and maintenance. Learn more about materials, tools, and demonstrations of techniques like bog bridge construction, turnpikes, grade reversals and how to handle wet spots on trails. 

This workshop is funded in part by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Pennsylvania Recreational Trails Program funded through the Federal Highway Administration. 

Trails Workshop: Part 1 | Trail Materials

Trails Workshop: Part 1 | Trail Tools

Trails Workshop: Part 2 | Turnpike

Trails Workshop: Part 2 | Bog Bridges

Videos created by Sophia Gross, Communications & Marketing Intern.

History of the Trails Team

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Besides its abundance of over 7,500 acres of countryside permanently protected from development, Willistown has long been known for its lovely network of trails, consisting of both eased (permanently protected) and uneased equestrian and pedestrian trails. In October of 2012, the “Willistown Trails Team” was formally created as a subcommittee of the Trust’s Land Protection committee.

The Team’s purpose
With the support of the community, the Trails Team Subcommittee is committed to assuring the ultimate connectivity and preservation of our precious trail network. Its goals are to:

(1) identify and map critical equestrian and pedestrian trail corridors within the Trust’s program area
(2) develop strategies for acquiring trail easements on currently unprotected trails
(3) coordinate with landowners to improve access to, and maintenance of, both protected and unprotected trails.

The Trails Team continues the good work of the Willistown Area Trails Association (WATA) and is staffed by volunteers who are a hardworking group of land conservation advocates, fox hunters, recreational riders, and outdoor lovers.

Andrew Kirkpatrick, Director of Stewardship Testimonial.

Stewardship Volunteer Program – Update!

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For the past few months, the stewardship department has missed getting the chance to meet and work with new people each week while our volunteer days have been on hold. But finally, we have an update! We are excited to announce that we will begin welcoming back, on a limited basis, volunteers who want to help us work at our preserves.

Common milkweed blooming at Kirkwood Preserve. Photo by Blake Goll/Staff

To maintain safe and comfortable conditions, we will not be resuming our regular weekly volunteer days just yet. Instead, we will be coordinating with anyone interested to schedule a time during the week when they can come out and work with us in smaller groups of one or two volunteers. While this isn’t as fun as getting everyone together, it will still allow us to get acquainted, tackle some much needed projects, and hopefully give you all a nice way to get outside and take out some stress on invasive plants!

These work sessions will be guided by a member of the stewardship team who will go over the day’s project and provide any necessary tools, while ensuring that proper social distancing measures are taken. If you are interested in scheduling a time to join us, or have any further questions, please contact our Preserve Manager, Mike Cranney. (mjc@wctrust.org)

Rejuvenation at Rushton Farm!

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Rejoice with the Staff at Rushton Farm as we celebrate the start to a new season. Hear first hand from the farmers what is going on, and growing,  in the fields at Rushton Farm. Get a look at the landscape of newly planted crops at Rushton Farm and get gardening advice for your own plants. Learn how you can promote pollinators and other beneficial insects.

Participants will include Field Manager and beekeeper Noah Gress, Production Manager Molly Clark and Willistown Conservation Trust Community Farm Program Director Fred de Long as well as guests from our field staff. Get a view of the farm from the Rushton Conservation Center and enjoy an hour with the people growing food in concert with the surrounding natural landscape of Rushton Woods Preserve.

Tag the Trust, Win Some Swag!

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CONTEST DETAILS


How do I enter?

-Snap a photo at of one of Willistown Conservation Trust’s three preserves

-Follow Willistown Conservation Trust on Facebook and/ or @wctrust on Instagram.

-Share and tag the photo using Willistown Conservation Trust @wctrust.org (Facebook) and/ or @wctrust (Instagram) in the photo caption.

-Include #wctrust in your post.

How do I win?

-The post with the most likes on Instagram and/ or Facebook will win.

-All photos must be posted between May 15 and June 1, 2020.

-The winner will be notified via direct message by the Willistown Conservation Trust on or after June 2, 2020.

How many winners and what do I win?

There will be one winner for the contest. The prize is a Rushton Farm goodie bag, including a Rushton Farm apron, tea towel, two hats, car magnet, large and small honey dipper, Rushton Farm Honey and a free CSA share on the date of your choice (to be arranged in advance with Willistown Conservation Trust). As well as freshly cut flowers from Rushton Farm!

Can I post more than once?

Of course! Please abide by the above rules and add as many pictures of our beautiful preserves as you would like.


By participating in this contest, you are consenting that the Willistown Conservation Trust can use your photo(s) with suggested photo credit in future social media posts and publications.

For more information contact land@wctrust.org.