WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST

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HABITAT

Caring for habitat is about inspiration: inspiring people, especially children, to love the land and care for it in a way that preserves its natural resources for generations. Habitat and land stewardship is actively caring for a place in a comprehensive way, optimizing the land for all the forms of life that dwell on or interact with it.

There are many expressions of stewardship in the Willistown area. Our area’s enduring equestrian and farming properties, for example, provide a tremendous opportunity for continued stewardship of vital and sensitive landscapes that are among our most beloved and familiar vistas.

We are committed to balancing access to the land with long-term management goals. This means monitoring and protecting fragile or endangered species, combating threats posed by invasive weeds and species overpopulation (such as White Tailed Deer), and managing with care our area’s magnificent landscapes to ensure they are protected in perpetuity.

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Native Trees and Shrubs

Birds and other wildlife are losing habitat to land development at an alarming rate. But if you treat your backyard as a piece of the larger mosaic of habitat, you can make a significant contribution to helping to conserve important species. Planting trees and shrubs in your backyard that are native to your geographical region is one of the best things you can do at home to help conserve species everywhere. Want to learn more about why you should consider going native? Learn more from our Homeowner Resource Guide.

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Wildflowers

Adding a swath of native wildflowers as part of your "backyard habitat" will introduce a glorious succession of textures and colors that attract a delightful display of pollinators and birds through the course of a season. Since 2007 the Trust has planted over 50,000 wildflower plugs in our nature preserves, in private properties, and at our office right here in Willistown. Check the online calendar for wildflower walks held in summer months. Want to plant your own meadow? We can help you! Check out our Homeowner Resource Guide. 

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Scrub-shrub Needs Love!

Studies  show that shrubby areas thick with small woody plants are absolutely critical to the survival of baby birds who have just fledged their nests. This is when they are most vulnerable to predators and they need a place to hide before they are strong enough to fly up to higher branches. Technically known as "scrub-shrub" habitat, these bramble patches are often the first thing that homeowners want to clear cut when they purchase a property. Don't! Learn more by reading our Beauty in the Brambles brochure.

Don't Mow - Let it Grow!

Here in the Willistown area, thanks to 40+ years of land conservation, much of our landscape remains rural. You can help maintain our rural character and ecology with biodiversity and clean water by resisting the urge to clip and manicure every bit of your property. Choosing native plants and installing them in natural looking ways can make a great difference. Mowing paths through sections of unmown areas is a wonderful approach that will encourage a stroll though the landscape to enjoy the unfolding tapestry though the seasons. Keep it rural, keep it healthy! Need help? We can help you! Check out our Homeowner Resource Guide. 

Native Grasses

If you have a large, sunny, open area on your property, native grasses can be a wonderful option to a mowed lawn. Combined with wildflowers, native grasses can create a beautiful tapestry of movement, colors, and textures, teeming with life throughout the seasons. Visit Kirkwood Preserve to see examples of native grasses growing in the meadows, beautiful in all seasons.

Invasive Plant Management

Many non-native trees, shrubs, vines and plant species outcompete our native plants, diminishing biodiversity and degrading our ecosystem. We need native plant species to thrive because local wildlife at the very bottom of the food chain, including microscopic life forms and insects, are dependent on native plants for food and shelter to survive. Non-native species create barren conditions for them. If they can't survive, wildlife higher in the food chain can not survive. Learn more from our friends at the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Homeowner Resource Guide

OUR NATURE PRESERVES

Our nature preserves are open to the public 365 days per year, providing natural places that offer peace and respite for all. We will keep them open as long as it is safe to do so. While visiting our preserves, please practice social distancing and wear a mask if you encounter another person who will be closer than six feet … Learn more about our nature preserves.

Upcoming Events

27 January

Lunch and Learn: Road Salt and Its Impact on Fresh Water

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CONSERVE. INSPIRE. RESTORE. DONATE.

The Trust's holistic approach to land conservation, with a focus on the connections among land, farm, birds, and water, protects native habitat and provides open space for our earth to heal. Please help the Trust continue to preserve our natural world for all  generations and consider making an impactful donation … Donate Today

CONTACT

925 Providence Road
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(610) 353-2562
land@wctrust.org

OUR STORY

Willistown Conservation Trust's mission is to: "preserve and manage the open land, rural character, … read more

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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