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 preservation and enhancement of their natural and scenic features and appropriate public access and education. A fourth nature preserve, Okehocking, is owned by Willistown Township and is protected by a conservation easement held by Willistown Conservation Trust.
Ashbridge Preserve | 1691 East Strasburg Road, West Chester, PA
Ashbridge Preserve is a 55-acre mix of early and mid-successional woodland, with old fields and open wet meadows. It contains the main stem of Ridley Creek, a small tributary, and associated wetlands and floodplains. Read more.
Kirkwood Preserve | 855 Grubbs Mill Road, Newtown Square, PA
Kirkwood Preserve is an 83 acre primarily rolling grasslands with scattered trees and a few woodland areas. Some wet meadow surrounds the main stem of Crum Creek. Read more.
Rushton Woods Preserve | 911 Delchester Road, Newtown Square, PA
Rushton Woods Preserve is an 86-acre treasure with mature woodland, open meadows, a creek, and Rushton Farm, the center of the Trust's Community Farm and Bird Conservation Program. Read more.
Hartman Meadow at Willistown Conservation Trust Office
925 Providence Road, Newtown Square, PA
A short trail through a 1.2-acre native wildflower demo area, most spectacular in July-September, and home to rare pollinators. Read more.
You Make It Possible
Your generous donations help us do our work, including the ongoing stewardship of our public preserves. Open to the community, free of charge, we rely on the generosity of our supporters to maintain them. Please give to our Annual Fund and help Willistown Conservation Trust continue to permanently protect land.
Other Nature Preserves in the Area
Okehocking Preserve | Owned by Willistown Township is a 180-acre nature preserve with over five miles of trails, rolling hills, woodland and stream. The Trust partnered with Willistown Township to secure the funding and permanent preservation of this Willistown jewel. A stone barn and surrounding 4.4 acres within the Preserve are owned by Willistown Conservation Trust. Read more.
Willisbrook Preserve | The 126-acre Willisbrook Preserve, owned by Natural Lands Trust, includes over 20 acres of the Willistown Serpentine Barrens, a rare ecosystem unique to this area. These barrens support a diverse variety of plants, including serpentine aster, round-leafed fame flower, and warm-season grasses. Read more.
Ridley Creek State Park | This park encompasses over 2,606 acres of Delaware County woodlands and meadows. The gently rolling terrain of the park, bisected by Ridley Creek, is in the southern portion of the Trust's preservation focus area. Read more.
Tyler Arboretum | To the east of and abutting Ridley Creek State Park, Tyler Arboretum encompasses 650 acres of horticultural collections, rare plant specimens, ancient trees, historic buildings, and extensive hiking trails. Read more.
East Goshen Park | East Goshen Township owns the 66 acres East Goshen Park on Paoli Pike. Read more.
