WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST

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The Hunt for Skunk Cabbage at Ashbridge Preserve

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Did you know that the Willistown Conservation Trust has three preserves that are open to the public year round? This year we’ll be opening a fourth! If you would like to know more about these gems of Willistown, join us on our new monthly walk series where we will take in depth look at the beauty, history, and future of these community resources! In February, we’ll be on the hunt of the first signs of spring, then as the year warms up, we’ll learn about the ecosystems that support pollinators throughout the summer, and wind up the year looking at how the topography of the landscape impacts the plant communities, habitat, and microclimate at our preserves.

February 20, 2020

We will keep our eyes  peeled as we look for the first sign of spring – skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)! This native wetland plant has some unusual characteristics and is the first pollinator food source to emerge! Perhaps we’ll be lucky enough to have some snowfall so we can experience another of its traits firsthand. Intrigued? Please join us!

Please note: This walk is being held at Ashbridge Preserve on East Strasburg Rd.

 

See our FAQs for important and helpful information.

Biergarten at Rushton Farm – Featuring Deer Creek Malthouse’s Malt-a-Palooza

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We are excited to announce that Rushton Farm will be partnering with Deer Creek Malthouse to present the first annual Rushton Farm Biergarten on October 26th from 1 to 5 pm. This event will feature Deer Creek Malthouse’s “Maltapalooza” with 16 beers to sample from breweries that use their malt. There will also be food from Lost Bread featuring ingredients from Rushton Farm.
 
For entertainment, we are excited to have the band The Sin Brothers featuring WCT’s own Eric Hetzel. There will be free face painting for the kids and outdoor games. There will be non-alcoholic options as well.
 
Tickets are $50 per person (includes beer and a food voucher for the Lost Bread food truck). Kids are free! The event will take place in the lovely fields of Rushton Farm. We are limiting tickets since this is a first-time event so we expect to sell out quickly. For tickets and more information click the registration button.
 
Wir werden viel Spass haben! (We will have lots of fun!)

 

Tomato Tasting

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Come enjoy a Summer evening with tomatoes, beer, and wine to celebrate our tomato harvest from Rushton Farm! Try a variety of tomatoes presented in multiple ways – simply sliced or in tasty preparations.

The Tomato Tasting is located at Rushton Farm at Rushton Woods Preserve, where we sustainably grow food on protected land. Rushton Farm and Rushton Woods Preserve is part of the Community Farm Program of Willistown Conservation Trust. Our farm is managed as a vibrant ecosystem that enhances the surrounding landscape.

This year, we are requiring advance registration due to limited capacity. Tickets are $25 for CSA members and $35 for non-CSA members. Please also consider making an additional donation to support the work of the Trust.

Starts at 5:00 pm and ends at 7:00 pm

Ashbridge Preserve Tree Planting

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Become a steward to the land and water by planting trees along Ridley Creek with Willistown Conservation Trust! And have fun, too!

As human development expands, Ridley Creek is increasingly inundated with excessive stormwater runoff and sediment from erosion, reducing stream health and threatening the environmental and recreational value of this waterway.

Streamside trees, also known as riparian forest buffers, can combat these threats by filtering stormwater runoff and stabilizing streambanks, thereby improving water quality and reducing erosion. To this end, Willistown Conservation Trust, a land trust with nearly 40 years of history preserving and managing natural land, has received $55,600 to plant 5 acres of trees along Ridley Creek.

You can help protect Ridley Creek from stormwater pollution and transform our natural landscape for generations to come simply by planting trees with us!

At this fun and rewarding event, you will make a positive impact on your community and stream health, network with like-minded neighbors, and learn about the value of streamside forests. This is an excellent community service and learning opportunity for anyone from individual volunteers, to corporate groups, to faith communities, to schools!

This is just the first of what will be several tree planting and stewardship events organized by Willistown Conservation Trust as we work to plant 5 streamside acres with trees! 

Ashbridge Preserve
E Strasburg Road
Malvern, PA 19355

Parking: Please park at the entrance on E Strasburg Road at the south side of the Preserve. You will likely have to park in the grass – follow the parking signs.

You can sign up for different time slots: either 7:00-9:00, 9:00-11:00, or for the entirety of the event (7:00-11:00). Just select your preference when you register.

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 Hartman Meadow, Ashbridge, Kirkwood, Kestrel Hill and Rushton Woods Preserves. We maintain these lands to preserve and enhance … Learn more about our nature preserves.