TH E S Y C A M O R E Newsletter of
Vol. XI, Issue 1
Spring 2010
W i l l i s t o w n C o n s e r v a t i o n Tr u s t
Preserving Willistown’s Rural Beauty Celebrating Thirty Years of Conservation And the “Heroes” Who Made it Happen
Who could have envisioned in the spring of 1980 what the Willistown countryside would look like today – thirty years later? The common view then was that this area of rural open space with its lovely rolling fields, mature woodlands and stream valleys rich with wildlife would inevitably be swallowed up by sprawl development, as was already happening at an alarming rate in southeastern Pennsylvania. So, how is it that, as we begin a year-long celebration of thirty years of community conservation, the Willistown Conservation Trust is able to share such remarkable success stories? These successes include: • The permanent preservation of over 6,000 acres of open space protected against sprawl development forever; • The creation of four publically accessible nature preserves (with a fifth in progress) making available more than 172 acres for everyone’s enjoyment; • The protection of an extensive network of walking and riding trails assuring the continuance of our traditional equestrian and recreational uses of the land; • The establishment of a Community Farm Program at Rushton Farm that is open to all, providing fresh local produce, education about food and nature, and sharing its bounty with those in need; • Land stewardship initiatives focusing on native grassland and wildflower meadows, stream corridor restoration, deer management, and the establishment of a critical Center for Bird Conservation at Rushton Woods Preserve.
The answer is that our thirty-year conservation effort has been uniquely ble s se d w it h h undred s
of friends, neighbors and supporters who have shared a passion for the land, and have made extraordinary com m it ments of ti me, energy and resources to see that Willistown’s precious resources are preserved forever. So many of you have played a special role, whether you are one of the 121 landowners who have donated conservation easements to protect your land from future development; one of the more than 350 supporters who contribute to our Annual Fund each year; one of our dedicated volunteers who help with activities from pulling weeds at Rushton Farm to stuffing envelopes at the Trust; an investor who has joined one of our thirteen partnerships to acquire critical properties in order to secure positive conservation outcomes; or a caretaker on a local property making the Willistown countryside a richer more beautiful place for locals and visitors alike … you are all “Heroes of the Countryside” and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts! All of us at the Trust hope you will bring your family and friends and join us on Sunday September 25th at the Run-a-Muck & Countryside Bash! It promises to be the most festive event of the year, so be sure to save the date. Plan to come “kick up your heels” and help celebrate thirty remarkable years of conservation and the many heroes who have made it happen! Bonnie Van Alen, President
For the preservation of the natural resources, rural character, and cultural heritage of the Willistown area.
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Message from the Chairman Doug Walker succeeded Peter Strawbridge as Chairman of our Board of Trustees in January. A 30year resident of Willistown, Doug became one of the first “conservation buyers” in 1983 by purchasing and then permanently preserving his 37 acre property on Delchester Road through the donation of a conservation easement. A long-time friend, devoted supporter and founding trustee, Doug brings a breadth of experience to the position. He has served in board and leadership roles for numerous regional, national and international organizations including the Academy of Natural Sciences; Brandywine Conservancy; The Nature Conservancy (PA Chapter and African Council); The Smithsonian; Natural Lands Trust; Land Trust Alliance; University of Pennsylvania Museum; African Wildlife Foundation; and BEADS for Education. Currently Doug is a partner at the Philadelphia office of Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. In March, he received the Conservationist Impact Award from the Philadelphia Zoo. How fortunate we are to welcome Doug as our new Chairman.
Looking back over the years, it is striking to see how far Willistown Conservation Trust has come under Peter Strawbridge and Bonnie Van Alen’s leadership. While Bonnie and Alice Hausmann had been hard at work saving our countryside before founding the Trust in 1996, it was still a start-up enterprise in almost every sense of the word.
Looking forward there are some potential dark clouds (not more snow, I hope). Most importantly, we are concerned about what the current crisis in all levels of government funding could mean for future grants. If these funds dry up, we will have to reevaluate much of our future strategy regarding large scale land acquisition projects and rely even more heavily on private donations. Thankfully, most of our land has been preserved through the generosity of private landowners through the donation of conservation easements. Our wonderfully supportive community continues to make conservation of this beautiful countryside a priority.
From there Peter and Bonnie built a foundation of over 400 supporters; a superb board; a total of 6,000 acres saved including some of the most important tracts in our community; an incredible staff who are punching way above their weight; a Trust fully accredited by the Land Trust Alliance; vital habitat for birds and other wildlife; a Community Supported I should end with a note on a recent Strawbridge sighting in Agriculture (CSA) program which provides over 100 families South Carolina — Peter, Liz and Dixie are all very well. with good, healthy, local food as well as meeting its high educational and charitable goals. None of this would Cheers to all and enjoy the spring. Doug Walker have happened without the support of all of you.
WE ARE GREENING THE SYCAMORE! Please note that we have made a number of changes to The Sycamore in an effort to reduce its environmental impact.
• Using paper fabricated from 50% recycled post consumer waste, up from 30%. • Working with a certified Sustainable Green Printer (SGP). • Printing with vegetable-based ink. • Giving our readers an option to receive the paperless version of the Sycamore by sending a request to land@wctrust.org with the subject “Sign Me Up for the Paperless Sycamore”.
We are: • Using paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a forest-certification program that verifies that the wood used in the production of pulp comes from forests that are managed sustainably. • Using a lighter weight paper, reducing fuel consumption, landfill volume and trees harvested.
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County and State Grants Move the Trust Closer to Completing the 80-Acre Rushton Woods Preserve Fundraising Efforts Continue to Acquire the Critical 50 Acre Addition to Rushton Woods Preserve
Thanks to generous grants in the amount of $1 million from Chester County last spring and $500,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) in January, the Trust is moving closer to raising the funds needed to acquire the 50-acre addition to Rushton Woods Preserve. The Trust is seeking a combination of public and private funds to meet the $3.9 million bargain sale purchase price for the Preserve addition. Application to Chester County for another $1 million grant has been made, and a decision by the Commissioners is anticipated this spring. Private donations to support the project have also begun, with a very generous gift of $250,000 received last fall. In June, 2009, Rushton Land Associates, LLC, a remarkable partnership of friends and neighbors, joined together to purchase the 50 acres on behalf of the Trust. The partnership is holding the property until settlement with the Trust takes place in June of 2010. The Trust will then have until June, 2012 to raise the funds needed to pay the remainder of the purchase price. Located at the intersection of Goshen and Delchester Roads, the property is adjacent to the 30-acre Rushton Wo o d s P r e s e r v e Spring
The New 80-Acre Rushton Woods Preserve.
This map shows the existing 30-acre preserve, the 50-acre proposed addition, and the current site of the Trust’s Community Farm Program and Rushton Farm CSA. The new preserve is part of one of the largest remaining contiguous woodlands in eastern Chester County.
already owned by the Trust. On completion of this acquisition, the two properties will be combined to create an 80-acre nature preserve in the heart of the Willistown countryside. In addition to per manently protecting the wonderful natural resources of the property, this acquisition will make the land accessible to everyone in the Scarlet Tanager is one of community. It will provide several declining woodland bird recreational opportunities on species who make the new the two-mile network of trails; 80-acre Rushton Woods a resource for the Tr ust’s Preserve their home.
educational and stewardship programs; and a permanent home for the Trust’s Rushton Farm CSA. The 80 acres consists primarily of mature woodland which is part of one of the largest contiguous sections of forest remaining in the Willistown area. Audubon Pennsylvania has identified the entire property as one of the most critical sites for bird conservation in our area. The property provides important habitat for declining woodland bird species such as Kentucky Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, and Lousiana Waterthrush.
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S T E WA R D S H I P R E P O RT Bird Banding Delights and Teaches All Ages About Willistown Wildlife Thanks to the many “Heroes of
the Countryside” who have permanently preserved their lands as open space, there is a greater abundance of rich habitat in Willistown for birds and wildlife to use for cover, nesting and foraging. To better understand how birds are using our area, the Trust created a bird banding station at Ruston Woods Preserve in the late fall of 2009. Here birds are gently captured in nets, catalogued in a global database, identified by application of a metal band around the leg, and then released back into the wild. During School children from Goshen Friends School are fascinated by the opportunity to examine a the first few weeks of operation the stabird captured for banding at the newly opened Rushton Woods Preserve banding station. Here tion generated enormous excitement by banding director Doris McGovern shows off a field sparrow for up-close inspection. the diversity of birds that were captured, banded and released. Before the station closed for the winter A powerful programming and educational instrument for the a few very lucky school groups and visitors to the preserve Trust, bird banding enhances and informs the Trust’s ongoing were able to witness the banding of numerous species, including monitoring efforts to determine bird population trends and Northern Saw-whet Owl, Eastern Towhee, Carolina Wren, provides insight into the effectiveness of our land management Fox Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, initiatives such as native plantings, reduced mowing of grasslands, and deer management. Beyond its research possibilities, American Robin, Song Sparrow, and Tufted Titmouse. the banding station offers special educational opportunities to the public. Preserve visitors can observe “birds in the hand,” and gain a closer understanding of these remarkable creatures.
JUNIOR BIRDING CLUB BEGINS IN MAY! Calling all kids! Join the club and discover the amazing birds that live all around us. Outings will be held monthly beginning in May. If you are interested, contact Lisa Kiziuk at lkr@wctrust.org. Recommended for first through fifth graders, but all ages are welcome.
Lisa Kiziuk shows off the first Saw-whet Owl captured in the nets at Rushton Woods Preserve bird banding station in late fall. Amazed by the close-up details of Willistown’s unseen overhead wildlife, youngsters Katerina Rubin, Laurens Van Alen and Brint Van Alen admire “Softie” before she is released. Spring
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High School Senior is Inspired by Bird Banding Experience Shipley senior Natalie Staples accompanied the Trust’s Lisa Kiziuk and Doris McGovern to an urban bird banding program in Fairmount Park last summer. The trip was such a powerful experience that Natalie used it as the subject of her personal essay in her application to Kenyon College. Happily, she was accepted and will attend Kenyon this fall. We are grateful to Natalie for sharing her essay with us.
I had watched hummingbirds before, close enough to see their
out, entering a new world. I like seeing how the pieces of bird banding “fit together,” how the amount of fat on a bird correlates with the likelihood of their surviving migration. After all, bird-banding data is used for a purpose — to save the land and allow birds to keep migrating through it.
wings flash, but never before had I held one in my hand. It didn’t even fill the whole of my palm; it stayed all fluff for a couple of seconds. Moments later, the overseer said it was “stressed,” and I had to let it go. Selfishly, I wanted it back. I remember asking the birdbander twice to hold it, I also enjoy figuring out and I never ask twice for how things work in a more something, but this time I figurative sense. It is one of did. I was astonished at the the reasons I admire Wyatt nonchalant way that she Prunty’s poem about riding held the bird, like it was an a bicycle. He takes the diffiever yday occur rence. I cult task of learning to ride, watched my overseer untangle the tenuous balance, and birds from the net: warblers, uses it to bring to light somecardinals, and wrens. After thing about parenthood and watching others untangle the the transition of the child birds all morning I was growtowards independence. I like ing impatient. But after I held Natalie Staples holds a Northern Saw-whet Owl that was captured and the way he takes a process released after careful application of a metal band around its leg identifying the hummingbird, its long of learning and gives it a sobeak so close to my face, I felt the bird. Data collected and tracked through the banding program is managed phisticated meaning while rewarded for rising so early at by the U.S. Geological Survey and contributes to global bird conservation. still keeping the literal o’dark thirty, as my dad would call it. moment intact. Another tenuous balance is the balance of the bird’s health in the moment and in the long run. The birds There is more to bird banding than feeling the hummingbird’s must go through the difficult process of being untangled in soft tremor against your palm; it is a process. I like to observe order to contribute to the conservation of the territory and take note of what surrounds me, not just as a biologist they rely on. They depend upon the bander to take care of but as a poet. I like to save an experience for later. Richard them. If you forget to furl the nets, you could leave a bird by Wilbur says, “poets notice objects”; scientists notice them, itself to die. too. The experienced bird banders spoke about “hatch year,” “molt,” and “fat.” They used terms to identify the shape of In writing and in science there is a powerful binding quality the wings and whether they were more angled or rounded. to the details, as with bird banding. I like to see how something I liked examining the chest of a bird and trying to see what functions, to take it apart, examine it under a microscope, they were looking for — asking questions. I learned that fat or investigate it with my own words. I like to examine a is a bit of yellow on the ribs. Molt looks like a cluster of little phenomenon, go back stage, and see why it works. I love to paintbrush heads. Blow on the feathers and you can see the wonder why. internal structure, the bones of the bird! I love figuring things Natalie Staples
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Four Area Residents Replace Lawns with Native Wildflower Meadows Dozens of volunteers helped the Trust install four native wildflower meadows in the Willistown area last year, including an extension of the meadows at the Trust offices. Plans to install at least three more meadows will be completed this Spring. Trust Stewardship staff has created an easyto-follow plan for homeowners who want to plant manageable wildflower meadows on their properties, including a plant mix that is deer resistant, native to our area and easy to install with guidance from our staff. Not only do native wildflowers increase the Native wildflower meadows are being established all over the Willistown area, thanks to our number of beneficial insects, which are fabulous volunteers such as these students from Episcopal Academy. Replacing lawn with native necessary food sources for breeding birds, wildflowers and grasses provides significant nourishment and habitat for birds and other wildlife. they are beautiful and provide habitat for all forms of wildlife. Please visit our office to see our meadows. They are entering their third season, and we would be happy to give you a tour!
Your Backyard Plays a Big Role in Supporting Wildlife Native plants support a greater number and diversity of beneficial insects, and play an important role in the food chain. When we include more native plants in our own backyards, we directly benefit our local bird population since most songbirds require insects during the breeding season to feed their young. To learn more about the importance of our collective gardens, yards and landscapes, we recommend Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy.
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Trout in the Willistown Area! Streamside Landowners, Learn How You Can Encourage Trout on June 3rd Did you know that the Upper Crum Creek is a high-quality cold water fishery, one of the few streams in southeastern Pennsylvania to still support the natural reproduction of trout? ChesterRidley-Crum Watersheds Association has completed a conservation plan (available at www.crcwatersheds.org) for the Upper Crum Creek and invites landowners along the area’s creeks and streams to learn about it on Thursday, June 3, 2010, from 7 to 8:30 pm, at White Manor Country Club, 831 Providence Road in Malvern. Reservations are requested at crc@nni.com or 610-892-8731.
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Volunteer Bird Enthusiasts Monitor Willistown Area Birds Not only are birds beautiful and easy to observe in nature, but best of all, they are extraordinary indicators of the health of our environment. Birds can respond quickly and positively to simple conservation actions such as reducing the frequency of field mowing to once a year, making them an exceptionally useful monitoring tool in our program area. Guided by our partnership with Audubon Pennsylvania, the Trust has developed a volunteer bird monitoring program comprised of a group of dedicated and passionate volunteers who monitor several properties quarterly to collect data on the birds they observe. The data they gather is entered into a database known as “eBird”, which is now available to amateur birders as well as professional ornithologists and scientists at www.ebird.org. The data is used to assess long-term trends in bird populations. Near term, the eBird data provides a snapshot of which species are observed in our program area throughout the year, giving the Trust a powerful tool for monitoring the effectiveness of our land management strategies.
Reduced Mowing Creates Habitat for Birds and Other Wildlife Perhaps one of the most basic yet productive means of creating useful and immediate habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife is to limit the frequency of field mowing. To maintain high quality grassland, we only need to mow once or twice per year. When the grass is permitted to grow uninterrupted, a richer, more wildlife-friendly environment is born, one that is capable of supporting a greater variety of “wild” life. In addition, if fields are mowed only once a year in the early spring, the unmowed grasses provide overwintering birds with protective cover and roosting sites in the harsh winter months.
Another “Hero of the Countryside” Steps Forward
Taylors Preserve Their Five Acres on White Horse Road In December 2009, long-time friends of the Trust, Marilyn Taylor and her son Stuart Taylor, donated a conservation easement on their family property in Easttown Township. Existing zoning would allow construction of a second home on the property, but the easement permanently eliminates that possibility. Located on White Horse Road, the property was originally the home of Marilyn and her late husband, Anson W. H. Taylor, Jr. In addition to restricting further residential development, the easement limits the amount of additional impervious land cover, and protects the lovely woodland that envelops the property. Together with several neighboring properties that are also protected by conservation easement, the Taylor’s donation expands the network of preserved lands in this area of Easttown Township. The easement also establishes an equestrian trail on the property that connects to an extensive network of trails on the neighboring eased lands. Many thanks to the Taylors for their generous donation, and for their longtime support of the Trust. They are true heroes of the Willistown area countryside!
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Last May over 25 hardy conservation volunteers planted 75 additional native trees and shrubs at Kirkwood Preserve as part of our ongoing riparian buffer restoration work. Nearly 275 trees and shrubs have been planted at Kirkwood since 2006.
The Willistown area has been designated an Important Bird Area by Audubon Pennsylvania because of the diversity and quantity of bird species using our lands during nesting season, migration, and over-wintering.
PURCHASE BIRD FRIENDLY COFFEE FROM THE TRUST
Many hours contributed by leader Deb Donaldson and her fellow members of “The Gardeners” resulted in the creation of this beautiful rain garden behind the Trust’s offices. Runoff from the Trust’s roof is directed to the garden where it nourishes all of the plants. Our heartfelt thanks to Deb and her crew. (Left to right standing) Deedee Heyward, Barbara Geltosky, Lyn Marinchak, Deb Donaldson, Anne Barnett.(Left to right kneeling) Barbara Meyers, Cathy Decker. Spring
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Smithsonian-certified “Bird Friendly” coffee is available in one-pound bags at the Trust office on weekdays year round and at Rushton Farm on Sunday afternoons beginning June 20. The shade-grown coffee comes from the only local supplier certified by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.
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Second Year of the Trust’s Deer Management Program Strives to Bring Deer Herd in Closer Balance with Local Ecosystem The Trust’s Deer Management Program (DMP) is continuing to work toward reducing the size of the local deer herd to restore balance to our ecosystem and improve the health and integrity of our native woodlands, a habitat critical to so many of our local migratory songbirds. The conclusion of the 2009-2010 hunting season in January marked the second year of the DMP which covers nearly 7,000 acres and 125 parcels of private property. Harvest results from the prior 2008-2009 season showed a recorded cull of approximately 275 deer, and we are currently in the process of collecting data for this most recent season.
In the coming year, our devoted botanist, Janet Ebert, will collect plant data from each of our six plant survey plots located throughout the DMP focal area. This data, along with our quarterly bird monitoring information, will be the ultimate arbiter of the program’s longterm success. While the effectiveness of the program will require years to assess, a number of important short term benefits have already been seen. Communications between and amongst hunters and landowners have increased significantly due
to the shared commitment to the program. As some of the area’s most fervent stewards of our treasured natural resources, our local hunting community has become one of the program’s greatest advocates. The Trust is grateful to everyone who has dedicated long hours to the DMP in varied roles, including our Hunter Coordinators, Landowner Advocates and those of you “on the ground” who put in the countless hours on cold, blustery days. The program would not work without you!
Hunters and Landowners Gather to “Share Our Traditions” given its tight ecological connection to the surrounding natural resources.
On March 6th the Trust held its second annual “Share Our Traditions” event at Rushton Farm where numerous landowners and hunters came together to share and sample a wide variety of venison recipes and good cheer.
In many respects, the adjacent and surrounding Rushton Woods Preserve serves as a microcosm of the entire Deer Management Program Area because of the intense pressure it faces from overabundant deer and the managed hunting efforts organized to proactively address it.
Rushton Farm is a most appropriate setting for this event,
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C O M M U N I T Y F A R M R E P O RT More Great Healthy Produce and Expanded Membership Planned at Rushton Farm As spring brings solace after a bitter winter, Rushton Farm
educational initiatives as we strengthen our partnerships with local school programs. Rushton Farm will also host a number of educational workshops that will be open to community members of all ages (see page 13).
is awakening with excitement at the start of our third season. In the greenhouse seedlings are stretching with anticipation of summer growth and the fields are showing a hint of green as they shake off their winter slumber. Just like the land, the Rushton Farm staff is beginning to prepare for what we hope will be another successful season of growing.
Offering a wide variety of produce with an array of flavors, colors, textures and nutrients has always been important to our CSA and this year the crop selection will continue that commitment with over 150 varieties of fruits and vegetables. In addition to growing food for our CSA members, Rushton Farm will continue to share the bounty by donating up to 10% of food grown on the farm to local food banks.
A supportive community, dedicated volunteers, a wonderful piece of ground and the delicious food it provides has helped the Rushton Farm Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA) find great success in its first two seasons. With these committed hearts and minds, this year Rushton Farm CSA will expand to include 100 families as we continue to evolve into a farm that reflects its community.
We are looking forward to another great season and are grateful for the opportunity to be part of a true community farm where all are rewarded not only with great food but with a deeper gratitude and understanding of the importance of local sustainable agriculture.
In 2010 we plan to expand many elements of the farm including our greenhouses, our flower gardens and our production fields. We continue to develop meaningful
FROM LAYING-HENS TO GRASS-FED BEEF RUSHTON FARM ENCOURAGES WILLISTOWN FARMING In addition to the abundance of produce grown at Rushton Farm, the farm staff is working hard to promote area farms and local food producers by offering their products for sale to both CSA members and at the Rushton Farm market, which is open on Sunday afternoons.
Cattle raised on Caroline and Woody Cullen’s Crum Creek Farm on White Horse Road supply local beef to the Rushton Farm market. Spring
These lovely laying hens, raised by Roger Dwyer on Providence Road, along with other local flocks, supply eggs offered for sale at Rushton Farm.
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Rushton Farm and Rushton Woods Preserve Harmony Between the Cultivated and the Wild Those who wander the fields at Rushton Farm during the height of the summer season can easily be taken aback by the magnificent scenery the landscape offers. It is not just the crops and the summer bounty offered up in the cultivated fields, but the adjacent Rushton Woods Preserve and interconnectedness between the two that make the farm so special. It is the towering trees and meadows heavy with grasses that enclose the farm. It is also the birds swooping through the vegetable crops scooping up insects as they fly to their perches in the surrounding woods. And it is the hum of the bees and other pollinators as they flirt between cultivated flower and wild meadow gathering pollen from a bevy of blossoms. One quickly realizes that this is not a traditional working farm; it is ground that is part of a much larger ecosystem that both supports and benefits from sustainable agriculture.
the fields will grow stronger from season to season, producing bountiful crops and enriching the surrounding landscape. To understand the relationship between the farm and the surrounding natural areas, one only needs to spend a day in the field. It is easy to see the benefits to the surrounding wildlife. The bird population and diversity has grown with the fields as the insect population increases every year. Pollinators abound and the butterflies are thriving in the cultivated flower garden. The grasses surrounding the farm fields are cut just once a year to support wildlife and prevent the weeds that scatter seed across the cultivated fields. The most powerful presence one may feel when walking around the farm comes from the trees in the adjacent Rushton Woods Preserve. Traditionally seen as an impediment to large scale agriculture, at Rushton these towering trees provide a windbreak for the fields. They also create a more diverse and healthy habitat where many farm predators, most notably deer, can feed and live, keeping them from foraging in the cultivated fields.
Adjacent to Rushton Farm, Rushton Woods Preserve is an excellent proving ground for many of the Trust’s stewardship programs and land management initiatives. The farm’s emphasis on sustainable farming practices entices birds and other wildlife to use its agricultural fields as habitat for nesting, foraging and cover.
Rushton Farm has been cultivated with great respect for the land. The ground is turned gently and fields are plowed with the contours of the land to prevent erosion. We practice an intensive farming system that maximizes production while taking care to manage the soil properly. Crop rotation is employed to prevent nutrient depletion and avoid the build-up of pathogens and pests. Cover crops and soil amendments are used to promote soil fertility, increasing organic matter and enhancing soil structure. We employ organic practices and rely on natural substances and beneficial insects to help with disease management and pest control . Careful cultivation ensures that Spring
When standing in these fields looking at the woodlands, we are reminded that the ground we farm plays an important role in the much larger landscape. It is this harmonious relationship that brings rewards for beyond the seasonal harvest of the farm.
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Chester High School Students Experience Rushton Farm and Rushton Woods Preserve as a Classroom The Community Farm Program
gardens at home and that in fact most have some sort of gardening experience. After lunch we headed over to the farm where the students helped dig out paths that had once again been covered by drifting snow. They were amazed by how warm it was in the green house.
is partnering with The Achievement Project (TAP) of Chester, a nonprofit organization that helps young people in the city of Chester realize their full capacities to succeed in high school, college and beyond. By coming to Rushton Farm on a monthly basis TAP youth will be exposed to the rural character of Willistown which differs so greatly from their urban community only 12 miles south on Providence Road. During the nine visits to the farm, students will learn about the ecology of the farm and surrounding natural areas of Rushton Woods Preserve. They will also learn about themselves and the important roles they can play in shaping more sustainable and healthy communities.
In future visits the students will be spending their time at the farm helping us in the crop fields and working with various staff members learning about Rushton’s diverse bird populaSo that’s where salsa comes from! TAP students enjoy tions and forest ecology. They freshly made salsa after harvesting tomatoes right from the field will experience the farm through at Rushton Farm last fall. TAP students will be visiting the farm the changing seasons and our monthly and working with staff members following a curriculum biggest dream for the program is that includes farm and forest ecology, biodiversity and to provide them with an answer the importance of sustainable agriculture. to the question posed by one student on the first day: “Why do people farm? Why do they At our first meeting of the year held in February, we traced want to farm?” the path of a popular breakfast cereal from Iowa corn field to We hope that by working alongside us that they will begin processor, distributor, retailer and finally to the consumer. to see the impact agriculture has on communities, the “Too many hands” they all agreed. But what alternatives do environment, the economy and their bodies, and that by the students have access to in the city of Chester? Over lunch growing food they will develop a lasting connection to the we happily discovered that a couple of the students have land at Rushton Farm.
HARVEST CELEBRATION AT RUSHTON FARM
Saturday October 23 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Rushton Farm, Delchester and Goshen Roads Celebrate the third season of harvest at Rushton Farm. Bring the whole family to the farm with a picnic and a blanket and enjoy and evening of pumpkin carving, hay rides, an owl prowl, and a bonfire. Keep checking www.wctrust.org for details.
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Events Growing healthy local food in Willistown
Potato Planting Get your hands dirty! Kids, adults and families will enjoy planting seed potatoes in the field. Subsequent trips to the farm will amaze you as you observe what happens to these plantings during the season.
Rushton Farm Sunday Farm Market Opens Rushton Farm is open to the public on Sunday afternoons during the growing season. Walk the fields and shop at the market where fresh vegetables, fruit, and flowers grown right on the farm are offered for sale. Local eggs, cheese and beef is also available.
July 15th Bug Out! A Day of Insect Appreciation
July 7th Bouquet Making Arranging flowers from the garden is fun and easy. Join members of the farm staff as they discuss the essentials of bouquetmaking. We’ll cover flower and foliage selection, color schemes, when to cut, bouquet structure and how to make the flowers last longer in the vase.
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September 11th
June 21st
May 1st
In coordination with Riverbend Environmental Education Center (Gladwyne, PA), Rushton Farm will present a day of insect identification, education and appreciation. The value of insects within the farm ecosystem will be discussed with an emphasis on the pollinators that are critical to crop production.
Preserving the Harvest End-of-season abundance calls for additional effort to preserve the harvest. Plan ahead and be prepared by joining farmers Fred, Aaron and Ashley as they demonstrate and discuss a range of preservation techniques, including boiling water bath canning, freezing, pressure canning and dehydrating.
October Finishing the Season: Composting and Seed Saving This half-day workshop will focus on composting and seed saving as the final two components of a successful farm season. Rushton Farm staff will discuss proper composting practices and field application, as well as the selection, harvest, and preserving of seeds for the next season.
August Cooking for Real Join “Cooking for Real” founders Yvonne Post and Denise Sheehan for some amazing field-to-table preparations, right on the farm. Yvonne and Denise will enlighten us about whole food cooking and nutrition with kid-friendly recipes and demonstations. We’ll harvest, prepare, cook and the best all, EAT our creations.
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Check our web site at www.wctrust.org for exact dates and times. 2010
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Horses & the Radnor Hunt Countryside Two Equestrian Events Benefit the Trust Radnor Hunt Horse Trials Helps Trust Ensure that Equestrian Activities Thrive in Willistown Area Horses and open space go together, and you really can’t have one without the other. Recognizing this, organizers of the 2009 Radnor Hunt Horse Trials made a $10,000 gift to the Trust in December with proceeds from their event. Trail riding, horse shows, pony club, and fox hunting are all long-held equestrian traditions of the Willistown area. Area riders enjoy a wealth of equestrian trails, farms with ample pasture, and several well-equipped training facilities with riding rings. Even so, equestrian-friendly lands are threatened in the Willistown area and the Trust is actively working with landowners to help them permanently preserve the lands and trails upon which the equestrian tradition is so dependent. The organizers of the Radnor Hunt Horse Trials, a group of equine lovers who revived the Autumn horse competition after the closing of the Radnor Hunt Three Day Event, are continuing the competition that has been held there for 37 years. The event is held on the three adjacent preserved properties of Radnor Hunt, Radnor Hunt Pony Club and Michael and Tana
Wall. The 2009 event showcased these beautiful preserved open spaces with 120 horses participating in the three-phase competition consisting of cross-country jumping, show jumping and dressage.
Radnor Hunt Pony Club Features Willistown’sTrails and Open Spaces For the fourth consecutive year, Radnor Hunt Pony Club donated the proceeds from its fall “Chase for Conservation” to the Trust for its ongoing work protecting open space and trails for equestrians. Riders at this year’s event enjoyed a fabulous fall day riding on trails across more than 900 acres of protected land, raising $2,000 for the Trust. Spring
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2010
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How Have 6,000 Acres in the Willistown Area Been Preserved?
CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
DEED RESTRICTIONS
Private landowners donate a conservation easement which legally restricts future development and protects the natural and scenic resources of their property. The land remains privately held and the easement restrictions remain with the land from owner to owner. The Trust has the obligation to see that the terms of the easement are upheld in perpetuity. (4,222 acres)
Private landowners restrict development of their property via deed restriction. This includes homeowner association deed restrictions. (872 acres)
LAND TRUST PRESERVES (Open to the Public) A land trust, using private donations and state, county and local government grants, purchases the land and permanently creates preserves that protect the natural and scenic resources of the land and are accessible to the public. (599 acres)
CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS A partnership of friends and neighbors purchases and holds the land while the Trust either ( 1) raises the money to purchase it for a preserve open to the public, or ( 2) finds a buyer who will donate a conservation easement protecting the natural and scenic resources of the land in perpetuity. (13 partnerships have resulted in the protection of 1,840 acres)
TOWNSHIP PRESERVES (Open to the Public) The Township, leveraging Open Space Funds with land trust, county and state grants, purchases the land and creates a public preserve or park. (590 acres)
As one can see, the majority of Willistown’s open space has been preserved through the generosity of private landowners who have legally restricted future development on their land by donating conservation easements to the Trust. For more information or to obtain a copy of our publication “Heroes of the Countryside – A Landowners’s Guide to Conservation Easements” contact John Turgeon at jgt@wctrust.org or 610.353.2562 ext. 11.
“We have six children and one of the best things we can give them and their children is a place where nature’s beauty will stand forever. I can’t think of a more important gift for our children than the permanent protection of this land.”
-Janice Murdoch Conservation Easement Donor On Point Farm, Goshen Road
Spring
On Point Farm
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2010
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Meet Our New Trustees
MARY HUNT DAVIS
BRYAN COLKET joined the Board in July 2009. Bryan grew up in Willistown and is a loyal supporter of the Trust. He and his wife Jayme served as co-chairs of the highly successful Run-a-Muck in 2009 and the Countryside Bash in 2008. Their farm on Hillview Road is preserved by a conservation easement and is home to a large menagerie of animals including goats and donkies. An avid outdoorsman, Bryan graduated from Roanoke College and works as an Emergency Medical Technician providing support to emergency medical units in Chester, Montgomery and Delaware Counties.
MARY HUNT DAVIS
We welcomed DICK EALES to our Board of Trustees in December, 2009. He is a dedicated conservationist and two-time former Chairman of the Board (and now a Trustee Emeritus) of the PA Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. He and his wife, Nancy, are avid birders and together have traveled and hiked in more than sixty different countries in pursuit of their passion for birds and bird conservation. Dick holds degrees from Cornell and Stanford Universities and has spent his career in the energy, high technology and financial industries. Long time enthusiastic supporters of the Trust, Dick and Nancy live on Dutton Mill Road in Willistown Township.
MARY HUNT DAVIS
JANICE MURDOCH also joined the Board in December. She and her husband Brit were instrumental in helping the Trust complete the 324 acre Kirkwood Farm preservation project in 2004 by acquiring one of the large Conservation Buyer parcels on Goshen Road, now known as “On Point Farm”. They generously hosted the highly successful “Countryside Bash” in 2008 and “Celebrating Kirkwood” in 2005 at their farm. An avid equestrian and fox hunter, Janice is one of the founding members of the Radnor Hunt Horse Trials, the horse competition that succeeded the Radnor Hunt Three Day Event. Janice is a graduate of Boston University and the Shipley School. She and Brit are now living at On Point Farm with their six children and numerous horses and dogs.
Two Special Volunteers BOB WILLIAMS volunteered at the Trust from January through November 2009, working primarily on our trail mapping project. As former Director of Land Trust Programs at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, he brought a lot of experience to this endeavor. An avid outdoorsman, Bob has taken on many of the country’s most challenging trails, most recently the Grand Canyon from North to South Rim. At this writing, Bob and his wife Carolee are on a two month tour of India and Africa. All of us at the Trust appreciate Bob’s expertise, energy, and work ethic. We were truly grateful for the time he gave us.
PAM HARRISON has generously volunteered her time at the Trust each Thursday for over a year, helping with financial and adminitrative projects. Pam lives in Ardmore with her husband Graham and beloved dog Siren. She worked as a senior attorney with the Internal Revenue Service for 29 years before retiring in 2006. Since that time, she has actively volunteered in the Campaign Office of Congressman Joe Sestak as well as in the Campaign Office of Barack Obama. The Trust is truly fortunate to have Pam’s able assistance! Spring
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2010
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Thank You!
We are grateful for the support provided by so many to further our conservation efforts in 2009 and beyond. Our deepest thanks go to each of you – whether you are a new donor, a long-time supporter or a Trust volunteer. You are helping to protect the Willistown area lands that enrich our lives, ensuring clean air and water, inspiring us with natural beauty, sustaining locally grown food, and providing all of us, young and old, with special places to explore. The following contributors have generously supported the conservation effort from January 1, 2009 through February 29, 2010.
THE SYCAMORE SOCIETY The Sycamore Society honors individuals and organizations who annually contribute $1,000 or more to sustain the Willistown Conservation Trust’s mission to steward and further protect the Willistown countryside. Platinum Sycamores ($25,000 or more) The County of Chester Mr. Steven C. Graham and Ms. Christina W. Morin Mrs. J. Maxwell Moran Mr. Douglas C. Walker Mr. and Mrs. Alfred P. West, Jr.
Gold Sycamores ($10,000 to $24,999) Anonymous (2) Ms. Carol Ann Atterbury Carol and J.R. Delich Glenmede Trust Company Mrs. W. Perry Gresh Mr. and Mrs. W. Anthony Hitschler Mr. and Mrs. J. David Hucker Kent-Lucas Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. McNeely Dr. Gregory Persichetti and Ms. Susan Barnett Radnor Hunt Horse Trials Mr. and Mrs. George F. Rubin Mrs. Anson W. H. Taylor, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James L. Van Alen II Mr. and Mrs. William G. Warden III
Silver Sycamores ($5,000 to $9,999) Elizabeth G. Atterbury Caroline and Olin Belsinger Frank and Terry Buzan Claneil Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Alan Crawford, Jr. Dick and Nancy Eales Alice and Peter Hausmann Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Helm Mr. and Mrs. George F. Krall, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Moller Mr. and Mrs. Britton H. Murdoch Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Naylor Donna and Bill Oliver
Spring
Mr. and Mrs. Seymour S. Preston III Mr. Timothy R. Rubin
Bronze Sycamores ($2,500 to $4,999) Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Clyde D. Beers Mr. and Mrs. L. Clarke Blynn Mr. and Mrs. Gary A. Cox Dr. and Mrs. Sanford H. Davne Delaware Valley Ornithological Club E. Murdoch Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Eric Y. Eichler Mr. Brook Gardner and Ms. Jodi Spragins Dr. Leslie J. Green and Dr. Ethel M. Ziselman Beverly S. Hattersley Mr. and Mrs. James W. Hutchin Mr. David W. Kirby Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. McNeil Mr. and Mrs. John Joseph Mullen Martha Geiger Papariello Mr. and Mrs. William J. Petrauskas Radnor Hunt Pony Club Lang and Marilyn Smith Mr. Stephen Sordoni Mr. and Mrs. Peter S. Strawbridge Mrs. William L. Van Alen, Sr. The Honorable Thomas D. Watkins and Mrs. Thomas D. Watkins Mr. and Mrs. Christopher B. White Mrs. Ethel Benson Wister Paul and Marcia Woodruff Alejandro and Janine Zozaya
Sycamores ($1,000 to $2,499) Anonymous Altus Partners Arader Tree and Landscape Atwater Kent Foundation, Inc. Mr. Timothy B. Barnard Mr. Donald W. Barshinger and Ms. Linda M. Gordon Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Bissinger, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Borgh, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas S. Briggs Broadacres Trouting Association Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Campbell, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. W. Morgan Churchman III Mr. and Mrs. George Y. Clement Mr. and Mrs. Bryan D. Colket Mr. and Mrs. Tristram C. Colket, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Craig W. Cullen, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James M. Davidson Mr. and Mrs. Emery W. Davis Mr. and Mrs. Harold M. Davis Mr. and Mrs. Anthony J. DiValerio, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Donatucci III Mr. and Mrs. Michael E. Drummond Mr. and Mrs. Patrick C. Egan Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Ewing Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gansky GBH Foundation Germeshausen Foundation Carol Young Gerry Mr. and Mrs. James E. Gerry Mr. and Mrs. Dale D. Goodman Griffiths Construction, Inc. John and Chara Haas The Hamilton Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Philip J. Harvey Mr. Scott T. Hattersley Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Hofmann Mr. and Mrs. Gary M. Holloway Mr. and Mrs. William T. Howard Mr. and Mrs. Harry J. Hurley III John Milner Architects, Inc. Dr. and Mrs. Henry A. Jordan Mr. and Mrs. Atwater Kent III Dick and Nancy Klavans Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Layden, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Mark T. Ledger Mr. and Mrs. William D. Lenker Thomas H. Lewis Mrs. Lawrence E. MacElree Ms. Jacqueline Badger Mars
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The Sycamore Society continues
2010 2009
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The Sycamore Society continued Ms. Victoria B. Mars and Mr. David R. Spina Mr. and Mrs. R. John Marsh, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mason Mr. and Mrs. Robert McClements, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Lance A. McCue, Sr. John and Melissa McGlinn Mr. and Mrs. John B. McGowan, Jr. Dr. F. Arthur McMorris and Dr. Joanna Balcarek McMorris Mr. and Mrs. Collin F. McNeil Mr. and Mrs. John D. Milner Mr. and Mrs. Eustace W. Mita Mr. and Mrs. Peter C. Morse Mr. and Mrs. Matthew J. Mullen
Conservationists ($500 to $999) Anonymous Mr. Francis H. Abbott, Jr. and Mrs. Frances Moran Abbott Mr. and Mrs. W. Thacher Brown Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Cooker Mr. and Mrs. William O. Daggett, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Gary E. Daniels Mr. and Mrs. Robert V. Duprey Ms. Claire R. Fisher Mr. and Mrs. Stephen E. Flynn II Gardner/Fox Associates, Inc. Ms. Wendy Lee Garthwaite Mr. and Mrs. James E. Gowen II Mr. and Mrs. William R. Hartman Ms. Christine V. Kanter Knight Aid Fund Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Leisenring, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Leisenring Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas J. Mecca Mr. Charles F. Seabrook II Mr. and Mrs. Frederick T. Seving III Mr. and Mrs. Richard I. Torpey, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Van Alen Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey R. Westphal Ms. Carolyn J. Wukitch and Mr. Anthony McCarley Dr. Kathy Zoll and Mr. Joseph C. Zoll
Naturescapes Landscape Specialists Mr. and Mrs. Arthur E. Newbold IV Tara and George Off Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Pension Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust B Vincent M. Pompo, Esquire Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance Mr. and Mrs. David W. Rawson Donald and Jill Red Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Roach, Jr. Mrs. Anne Faulkner Schoemaker Deacon and Sheila Shorr The Simkiss Family Foundation Jim and Ellen Simmons Mr. H. Peter Somers Julie and Robert Spahr Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Stolper
Mrs. George Strawbridge Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Swift Dr. and Mrs. Robert B. Taggart Mr. and Mrs. Anson W. H. Taylor III Mr. and Mrs. Stuart A. Taylor Mr. Richard H. Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Trala, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James L. Van Alen, Jr. Veritable, LP Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey C. Warden Mr. and Mrs. Andrew P. Weir Mr. and Mrs. Theodore H. Wentz III Mrs. Penelope P. Wilson Ms. Effie Wister Ms. Noelle Wister Ms. Sabina F. Wister Ms. Sherley Young
Mr. and Mrs. Warren I. Claytor Mr. and Mrs. John F. Cozzi Dr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Diliberto Mr. and Mrs. Saunders Dixon Mr. and Mrs. John H. Donaldson Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Dougherty Mr. Christopher S. Eklund Mr. George Elser and Ms. Angela M. Scully Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm E. Flint Dr. Kimberley H. Galligher and Mr. Russell T. Galligher Golden Valley Farms Coffee Roasters Jeff and Diane Groff Anne and Matt Hamilton Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Jones Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Kenworthy III Mr. Ralph W. Marsh Mrs. John B. McGowan, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Christopher D. McIsaac Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. McKenna, Jr. Ms. Anne E. McManus Dr. and Mrs. James S. Milne Mr. and Mrs. Steve Mostardi
Anne and Gary Murphy Mrs. Margaret R. Nagy National Penn Bank Mr. and Mrs. C. Warren Ormerod Mr. and Mrs. William J. Pellicano Peter Zimmerman Architects Dr. and Mrs. Isaac S. Pike III Mr. and Mrs. H. Clifford Reves Ms. Grace V. Steward Ted and Kitty Stokes Mr. and Mrs. Alexander S. Van Alen Mr. and Mrs. Donald W. Weaver Weeds, Inc. Lisa M. Whitcomb and John H. Krick, Jr.
Protectors ($100 to $249) Anonymous (3) Mr. and Mrs. E. Page Allinson Mr. and Mrs. David Arnold Ms. Hazel E. Arnold Mr. and Mrs. P. Theodore Babiy Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey E. Baena
There’s nothing better than enjoying the beautiful trails winding through the countryside with your friends, family and pup at Run-a-Muck! Participants can run the four mile loop competing for best time, or walk the two mile loop at a leisurely pace.
Stewards ($250 to $499) Beneficial Bank Betsy and Luke Block Mr. and Mrs. David M. Boucher Braxton’s Animal Works, Inc. Dr. and Mrs. Steven W. Breecker Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Brennan III Mr. D. Hughes Cauffman
Spring
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Kids plant potatoes at Rushton Farm last May. Mr. Robert I. Ballinger Mr. and Mrs. John M. Barbis Mr. and Mrs. R. Gregory Barton Mr. and Mrs. James L. Beam Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Belber II Dr. and Mrs. Dennis Berman Bice Cole Law Firm, P.L. Mr. and Mrs. William T. Black, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Donald Z. Block The Bryn Mawr Trust Company Ms. Janice A. Bryson Mr. and Mrs. George A. Buckland Mr. Leonard A. Busby Mr. and Mrs. Edward R. Carpenter, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Caspar Mrs. George Cauffman, Jr. Mr. Stephen C. Chance and Ms. Anne R. Holiday Ms. Debra L. Charlesworth Chester County Fox Hunters Association Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Cobb Mrs. Wiley F. Corl III Mr. and Mrs. Donald P. Coulston Mrs. Walter J. Cowan, Jr. Robin and Alan Crawford III Mr. Charles A. Daly IV Mr. and Mrs. C. Frederick de Long, Sr. Mr. B. Robert Demento Mr. and Mrs. David S. Denious Mr. Francis P. Devine III Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. DiLoreto The Dopheide Family Mr. and Mrs. Dennis J. Elko Mr. and Mrs. Michael P. Erdman Mr. Peter A. Evans Line Farr and Terry Harvey Mr. and Mrs. Ernest R. Forcino Four Counties Garden Club Mr. Keith Fox Mr. and Mrs. Edward P. Friedman Mr. and Mrs. John M. Gaadt Dr. and Mrs. Brent S. Gartner Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Gilpin, Jr. Goshen Friends School
Spring
Ms. Penny Goulding Mr. and Mrs. M. John Ham Mr. and Mrs. J. Marshall Hamilton Andrea Hanaway, MD Mr. and Mrs. John A. Harris IV Mr. and Mrs. William R. Hartman, Jr. Mrs. Joseph C. Hastings Mr. Thomas P. Hogan, Jr. and Ms. Victoria E. Silbey Mr. and Mrs. A. Dunham Hollister, Jr. The Hood Family Ms. Electa M. Huber Mr. and Mrs. L. Stockton Illoway Dr. and Mrs. Marshall L. Jacobs Mr. Jeffrey D. Katz and The Honorable Kathleen M. Katz Dr. and Mrs. Rex Kessler Mr. and Mrs. Leonard A. King Mr. and Mrs. James F. Kisela Mr. and Mrs. William Kommer, Jr. Mr. Maurice G. Koningstein and Ms. Anne Satterthwaite Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Kozlowski Mr. and Mrs. Ronald T. Kuehn Dr. George L. Lasota and Dr. Jeanne A. Hanache Mr. and Mrs. David P. Lavins Mr. and Mrs. Christopher A. Lawler Mr. and Mrs. J. Richard Leaman, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. N. Blair LeRoy Dr. and Mrs. Kirk P. Lindvig Mr. and Mrs. John F. Link, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas S. Ludington, Jr. Ms. Flora F. Macklin Ms. Deborah A. Mathes Mr. and Mrs. James E. McErlane Mr. James Meehan Mr. and Mrs. Michael V. Morgan Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Moser, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. George A. Mossman III Ms. Bonnie J. O’Boyle Mr. and Mrs. Richard Owens Mr. and Mrs. Martin R. Page Mr. and Mrs. Todd D. Paige Mr. David W. Palmer and Ms. Laura Sauer Palmer Ms. Edith G. Parnum Ms. Catherine A. Patton Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Peck Mr. George R. Peel Mrs. Eleanor R. Peterson Mr. and Mrs. Ronald D. J. Ploeg RedBud Native Plant Nursery Mr. David Reeves Mr. and Mrs. Paul J. Riley IV Mr. and Mrs. Dan Sanders Mrs. Leonard P. Sasso Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Schaefer
Dr. and Mrs. Timothy D. Schaeffer Mr. and Mrs. Calvin W. Schmidt Mr. Karl R. Schoettle, Jr. Mrs. Dorothy F. Sellers Mr. and Mrs. Joseph B. Siedlarz III Mr. and Mrs. William T. Spane Mr. and Mrs. Derek C. Stedman Ms. Milica Stojancic Ms. Sarah B. Stokes Mr. and Mrs. Arthur L. Strawbridge Mr. and Mrs. Steven L. Strawbridge Mr. and Mrs. Eric W. Swanson Mr. and Mrs. Saul J. Swartout Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth M. Tankel Mr. and Mrs. Jack M. Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Tegler Mr. and Mrs. David B. Thayer Mr. Robert A. Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Robert Toland, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James J. Tornetta Mr. and Mrs. Bruce A. Ulmer Mr. and Mrs. David R. Underwood Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Verhoog Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey S. Vincent Mr. and Mrs. Theodore M. Volz Dr. and Mrs. Michael J. Ward Ms. Barbara R. Washburn Mr. and Mrs. William Y. Webb Mrs. Robert D. White, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Bradford F. Whitman Mr. and Mrs. Schuyler C. Wickes Mr. and Mrs. David R. Wilmerding, Jr. Mrs. Lindley M. Winston Mr. Minturn T. Wright III Mr. and Mrs. Richard N. Young, Jr.
Friends (Up to $99) Anonymous (3) Mr. and Mrs. Christopher R. Aceto Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Augusterfer Ms. Laurie M. Bachman Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Barenberg Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Barlow Mr. Timothy M. Beadle Drs. Thomas and Melanie Boerner Mr. and Mrs. William T. Burns Mr. and Mrs. Jack H. Campbell Ms. Jamea Campbell Mr. and Mrs. James T. Carson Mr. and Mrs. George Cauffman III Ms. Lee McIlvaine Churchman and Mr. Simon D. Manonian Dave and Sarah Clemens Ms. Jonna D. Coachman Dr. and Mrs. James B. Congdon Mr. Christopher B. Cryer Mr. and Mrs. John S. Custer, Jr.
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2010
THE SYCAMORE Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Davis Drs. Paul and Caroline Davis Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Davis Mrs. Ruthellen Pyle Davis Mr. and Mrs. Paul DeCurtis Devon Jewellery Shop, Inc. Mr. Raymond E. Dombroski and Ms. Colleen J. DeMorat Mr. Michael A. Dowling Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. Dowling Mr. and Mrs. Stephen P. Downs, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Sidney B. Elston, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. William C. Ewing Mr. and Mrs. John J. Fahey, Jr. Mr. Anthony L. Fernandes Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Foerster Genuardi’s Family Markets Dr. and Mrs. Edward F. Gilardi Mr. and Mrs. James R. Goodyear Ms. Pamela N. Gougeon Dr. and Mrs. George T. Graham Mr. and Mrs. James A. Grant Mr. Charles J. Groux, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Hardin Mr. and Mrs. Jack Henn Mr. and Mrs. John R. Hicks Ms. Anna S. Jackson Mr. and Mrs. Francis B. Jacobs II Mr. Erik T. Jensen Mr. and Mrs. Henry Clay Johnson, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. William H. Johnson, Jr. Ms. Gabriella Kecskes Mr. and Mrs. Fielding E. Lamason Mrs. Joan Coxe Lange Mr. Daniel Leinhauser Mr. Donald R. Levan Ms. Diana L. Lorine Mr. and Mrs. Gennaro J. Maffia Mr. and Mrs. Kevin McAteer Mr. and Mrs. James J. McBride, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. McDonough Mr. and Mrs. Daniel P. McHugh Ms. Deborah S. McKechnie Ms. Sarah Mills Mr. and Mrs. John Day Mohr Mrs. E. Townsend Moore
WE LOVE OUR INTERNS! What would we do without our interns? Over the past year, the Trust has benefited tremendously from a diverse group of interns looking to broaden their exposure to the world of conservation and get some real world experience under their belts. Last May, two Shipley School seniors, Ian Dombroski and Robbie Walzer, contributed three full weeks of their time to the Trust as part of their Shipley senior service projects helping with tree and wildflower plantings, weeding and harvesting at the farm. Liz Bennett, a Conestoga High School junior, added immeasurable value to the Stewardship and Community Farm programs. Sarah Brown, a West Chester University senior and ecology major, helped us with numerous projects last fall as part of her course work. All of our interns learned a great deal from their experience at the Trust and contributed a wealth of knowledge and sweat equity to our mission and daily tasks. Robbie Waltzer (top), one of our high school interns from Shipley, helps plant a tree at Kirkwood Preserve. Liz Bennett (below), from Conestoga High School, with a baby Purple Martin.
Spring
Daniel and Jennifer Newhall Mr. and Mrs. James R. Nolan Mr. and Mrs. William L. Nutter Mr. and Mrs. Randall M. Palm Mr. and Mrs. Lance Parry Mr. and Mrs. James Patterson Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Polishuk Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Reeves Mr. and Mrs. J. Permar Richards III Mr. Todd W. Richards Ms. Gwyn Rowland and Mr. Galen T. Kreiser Ms. Kathleen M. Saltz Ms. Margaret B. Schiffer Mr. and Mrs. Manfred Seidel Drs. Joseph and Suzanne Seltzer Dr. and Mrs. Keith L. Sharkan Mr. David D. Shields Mr. and Mrs. David Siegmund Mr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Skelly Mr. and Mrs. John M. Skrocki Mr. and Mrs. Mark D. Slouf Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth L. Smeltzer Mr. Michael G. Starecky Mr. and Mrs. RJ Stedman Mr. and Mrs. David D. Stephens Ms. Marian Stevens The Strange Family Mr. Henderson Supplee III Mr. and Mrs. Philip C. Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Thayer, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Craig Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Aaron R. Thurlow Mr. Andrew B. Ulichney II Dr. John R. Van Nagell, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Howard D. Venzie, Jr. Mr. Thomas P. Weathers Ms. Gretchen F. Wetterau Mr. Bob Williams and Ms. Carolee Parker William Wood Co. Ms. Lida A. Wright
Matching Gifts Bank of New York Mellon Community Partnership Johnson & Johnson Microsoft Corp. The Quaker Chemical Foundation Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation The Vanguard Group Foundation
Memorial Gifts In Memory of Barbara P. Bartholomew Mr. and Mrs. William T. Howard Ms. Electa M. Huber Ms. Sarah Mills Vincent M. Pompo, Esquire Mr. and Mrs. Seymour S. Preston III Ms. Grace V. Steward
W i l l i s t o w n C o n s e r v a t i o n Tr u s t 20
2010
THE SYCAMORE Mr. and Mrs. Peter S. Strawbridge Dr. and Mrs. Robert B. Taggart
2009 Run-a-Muck Fast-time Winners.
In Memory of Frank Hastings “Terry” Griffin III Mr. Robert I. Ballinger Bice Cole Law Firm, P.L. Ms. Janice A. Bryson Mr. and Mrs. Jack H. Campbell Chester County Fox Hunters Association Mr. Francis P. Devine III Devon Jewellery Shop, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. John H. Donaldson Mr. Peter A. Evans Jeff and Diane Groff Anne and Matt Hamilton Mr. and Mrs. A. Dunham Hollister, Jr. The Hood Family Mr. and Mrs. L. Stockton Illoway Ms. Deborah A. Mathes Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. McKenna, Jr. Mrs. E. Townsend Moore Radnor Hunt Pony Club Mr. and Mrs. Dan Sanders Mr. Karl R. Schoettle, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. David Siegmund Mr. Henderson Supplee III Dr. John R. Van Nagell, Jr.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
Piper Hartman, Atticus Shorr, Lindsay Barrows Jeff Wren
Easement Endowment The Easement Endowment is funded by landowners who place easements on their properties and provides funds for the maintenance and defense of such easements in perpetuity. Mr. and Mrs. James W. Hutchin Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Naylor Dr. Gregory Persichetti and Ms. Susan Barnett Mrs. Anson W. H. Taylor, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Christopher B. White
Special Support of Programs Claneil Foundation, Inc. Delaware Valley Ornithological Club The William Penn Foundation
Support of Rushton Woods Preserve Addition Acquisition
Supper Sponsor
Anonymous The County of Chester Ms. Jacqueline Badger Mars
Competition Sponsor
Beneficiary Income
Timothy B. Barnard Nancy and Fred Bissinger Ruth M. and Tristram C. Colket, Jr. Bryan and Jayme Colket Gary and Catherine Cox Carolyn and Woody Cullen Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gansky Carol Young Gerry Griffith’s Construction, Inc. The Hamilton Family Foundation Peter and Alice Hausmann Mr. and Mrs. W. Anthony Hitschler Beth and David Hucker Thomas H. Lewis Collin and Nia McNeil Mr. and Mrs. Arthur E. Newbold IV Bill and Donna Oliver Frank and Keith Pension Jim and Ellen Simmons Lang and Marilyn Smith Peter and Liz Strawbridge Tom and Melissa Trala
We are fortunate to have been chosen as a beneficiary of the following events in 2009: Radnor Hunt Horse Trials Radnor Hunt Pony Club “Chasing for Conservation”
2009 Run-a-Muck Event Hosts Esther and Paul Gansky
Looking for a Great Summer Day Camp? Check out Willistownship’s Wonderful World Summer Camps willistownparks.org 610-640-1669 Spring
Mrs. J. Maxwell Moran AMResorts
Run-a-Muck Stewards
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2010
THE SYCAMORE Mrs. Elizabeth K. Van Alen Jim and Bonnie Van Alen Veritable, LP Douglas Walker Tana and Michael Wall Andrew and Eileen Weir Penelope P. Wilson Debbie and Jeff Warden
Run-a-Muck Patrons Beneficial Bank Clarke and Barb Blynn Braxton’s Animal Works, Inc. Warren and Caroline Claytor Country Properties Thomas and Caryl Anne Donatucci Gardner/Fox Associates, Inc. Golden Valley Farms Coffee Roasters Mr. and Mrs. Philip J. Harvey Harry and Marybeth Hurley Eldridge and Betty Johnson Nancy and Dick Klavans Mrs. Jean McManus Chris and Jennifer Moller Mr. and Mrs. Britton H. Murdoch National Penn Bank Skip and Karen Petrauskas Radnor Hunt Horse Trials Mr. and Mrs. James L. Van Alen, Jr. Don and Nancy Weaver Weeds, Inc. Willistown Veterinary Services Peter Zimmerman Architects Janine and Alex Zozaya
LEAVE A LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS What better legacy is there to leave than protecting the Earth for generations to come? There are many easy ways to include the Trust in your will or estate plan, including naming the Trust the direct beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k) or life insurance policy. Whether you are taking those first important steps toward planning your estate or are in the process of updating your plans, Willistown Conservation Trust is here to help. We will be happy to work with you and your advisor to help you create your own unique conservation legacy. Contact Elizabeth Stokes at 610-353-2562 ext. 19. Run-a-Muck Supporters Antoinette Day Spa & Salon Brooks Running Shoes The Bryn Mawr Trust Company Dansko F. Arthur McMorris and Joanna Balcarek McMorris REI Redbud Native Plant Nursery Runaway Success
Sycamore Society Party Event Hosts Ruth M. and Tristram C. Colket, Jr.
Other Donated and Discounted Goods and Services John Allen Arader Tree Service, Inc. Artful Framer Ashbridge Landscape and Design Management Barnard, Mezzanotte, Pinnie & Seelaus
Chapel Printing Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Mary Hunt Davis Terry Decker Saunders Dixon, Jr. John Fossbenner Garden Club of America The Gardeners Golden Valley Farms Coffee Roasters Great Valley Nature Center Doris McGovern Greg O’Meara Mostardi Nursery Natural Lands Trust Paoli Hardware Bruce Park Radnor Hunt Jim Rankin Talula’s Table Scott Weidensaul Bob Williams Weinrich Bakery
VOLUNTEERS Many thanks to all our volunteers! We truly appreciate your time, effort and dedication. List reflects volunteer activities between March 1, 2009 and February 28, 2010. Penny Aldrich Mark Aldrich Faith Aldrich Ali Backlund Dan Allard Laurie Bachman Sid Baglini Allison Balin Andrea Banty Taylor Barlow
Don Barshinger Priscilla Baysinger Debbie Beer Clyde Beers Donna Beers Roger Bennett Steffie Bennett Barb Blynn Clarke Blynn Melanie Boerner
Stevie Boulden Lee Boyett Melinda Breecker Steve Breecker Rebecca Breskman Sally Bridewell Angelo Brutico Susan Brutico Mary Ann Butcher Bob Campbell
Minh Cao George Cauffman Will Cauffman Jan Cauffman Harley Chesal Sarah Chunko Caroline Claytor Warren Claytor Dave Clemens Bryan Colket Jayme Colket Trevor Conlow Susan Cooker Bernard Cooker Anna Costello Jake Costello Teresa Cotter Gary Cox Catherine Cox Alicen Davis Terry Decker
Why save Willistown’s Wild Places? Author Gary Ferguson helped us answer that question for 120 friends of the Trust at his inspiring talk “The Promise of the Wild” February 19th at Radnor Hunt.
Spring
Sam Denis Stuart Denis Robert Dickey Lucas Dickey Saunders Dixon Ian Dombrowski Deb Donaldson Thelma Douglas Amy Downs Tony DuFour Laura Esposito Kate Fahey Jack Fahey Katie Fahey John Fahey Pam Ferber Tony Fernandes Keith Fox Tori Fox Chris Fratinardo Kim Galligher
W i l l i s t o w n C o n s e r v a t i o n Tr u s t 22
Russell Galligher Brook Gardner Carol Gilligan Elaine Gilmartin Kris Goodman Marie Goodwin Linda Gordon Eliza Gowen James Gowen Rohan Grant Caitlin Green Carl Grunwald Barbara Hahn Janet Ham John Ham Pam Harrison David Harshaw Billy Hartman Piper Hartman Meg Hauler Jack Hauler
2010
THE SYCAMORE Alice Hausmann Peter Hausmann Tom Helm Nancy Hiro Rob Hiro Stephen Hiro Lynn Hitschler Beth Hucker Joseph Hudson Jim Hutchin Sarah Hutchin Fred Jackson Olga Jackson Todd Jones George Jurgens Tracy Kelly Bill Keyser Tim Koester Sam Kramer Maddie Krick Michael Kutz Joe Layden Sally Layden Mark Ledger Ted Leisenring Chloe Levin Dale Levin Gary Masiello Martha Masiello Annamaria McElroy Bob McElroy Linda McIsaac Michelle McKeever Art McMorris
Angel Mecca Nick Mecca Nick Mecca, Jr. Milicia Stojancic Jennifer Moller Anne Murphy Peter Nagy Pam Nagy Chandor Nagy William Nagy Rob Nagy Tara Off Bill Oliver Donna Oliver Martin Page Brendan Pailet Ruth Parker Edie Parnum Susie Paul Karen Petrauskas Molly Petrauskas Skip Petrauskas Katherine Picariello Brooke Randolph Celia Randolph Sarah Randolph Tom Randolph Jim Rankin Thomas Reeves Cliff Reves Ian Riley Jody Rioboli Danny Rogers
Pam Rogers George Rubin Katerina Rubin Alex Seewald Suzanne Seltzer Alex Severance Fritz Seving Christine Seving Heather Shank Sheila Shorr Deacon Shorr Ellen Simmons Dylan Smith Lang Smith Marilyn Smith Vince Smith Winston Sordoni Natalie Staples Derek Stedman Amory Stedman Chip Stephenson Kathy Stephenson Liz Stockbridge Kitty Stokes Lynn Strange Dave Strange Peter Strawbridge Art Strawbridge Doris Strawbridge Liz Strawbridge Bradley Strenge Dan Sullivan Sandie Sutherland
Pam Taggart Bob Taggart Marilyn Taylor Lance Taylor Debi Taylor Suzy Terracciano Craig Thomas Judy Thomas Sandra Thompson Margaret Thompson Alex Thompson Dick Thompson Tom Trala Gianna Trala Amy Turgeon Brint Van Alen Colby Van Alen Laurens Van Alen Rob Van Alen Judy Van Tiem Dale Vandegrift Jody Vandegrift Case Verhoog Jim Vike Barbara Vincent Jim Virgilio Kim Virgilio Michael Wall Kerry Walsh Robbie Walzer Deb Warden Jeff Warden Robbe Watson
Eileen Weir Ben West Chris White Bob Williams Sara Williams
Willistown Conservation Trust 2010 Events CREEK ENHANCEMENT DAY
This list may be incomplete; please forgive any omissions or errors.
HARD-WORKING VOLUNTEERS TAKE ON WILLISTOWN’S INVASIVE VINES the ravages of invasive Under the devoted vines such as Oriental direction of board Bittersweet which member Mark Ledger, climb their way up and our “deVine” team of into the branch strucover 35 volunteers has ture of our treasured removed invasive vines native trees. Look for from over 1,500 trees this hard working at the Rushton Woods group of “deViners” Preserve and along once the weather starts portions of Goshen to warm back up this Road, Hillview Road spring and summer! If a n d G r u bb s M i l l you are interested in Road. We are grateful participating in this to have such dedicated effort, please contact Lisa Kiziuk at community members such as Nick and lkr@wctrust.org or Mark Ledger at Nick Mecca Jr., shown here, who have (610)353-8295. saved so many of our local trees from Spring
W i l l i s t o w n C o n s e r v a t i o n Tr u s t 23
Mike Wolford Molly Wolford Celeste Yeager Sara Yeager Alex Zozaya
Crum Creek Work Day at Kirkwood Preserve
Saturday, May 1 PETER SCHAUMANN OUTDOOR PAINTING SERIES Lecture at Trust Offices
Saturday, September 11 Painting Workshop at Kirkwood Preserve
Saturday, September 18 RUN-A-MUCK & COUNTRYSIDE BASH at Heartwood Farm
Saturday, September 25 RADNOR HUNT HORSE TRIALS Saturday, October 9 HARVEST CELEBRATION Rushton Farm
Saturday, Oct. 23 RADNOR HUNT PONY CLUB CHASE FOR CONSERVATION Sunday, November 19 Check www.wctrust.org for details. 2010
W I L L I S T O W N C O N S E RVA T I O N T R U S T Jeanne B. Van Alen President/Executive Director
925 Providence Road, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073 (610) 353-2562 ~ Fax: (610) 325-0869 ~ www.wctrust.org
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID SOUTHEASTERN, PA PERMT NO. 96
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Douglas C. Walker Chairman
Alice E. Hausmann Vice Chairman Elizabeth C. Hucker Vice President and Assistant Secretary Langhorne B. Smith Secretary James L. Van Alen II Treasurer Bryan D. Colket V. Richard Eales W. Anthony Hitschler William T. Howard Elizabeth C. Hucker Mark T. Ledger F. Arthur McMorris, Ph.D. Janice Murdoch Arthur E. Newbold Donna F. Oliver, Esq. Richard A. Shorr Langhorne B. Smith Anson W. H. Taylor, III Jeanne B. Van Alen Tana Wall
SAVE THE DATE!
Come Celebrate Thirty Years of Conservation in the Willistown Area!
STAFF Chelsea Allen Rushton Farm Assistant Field Manager Dee Ann Bowman Director of Finance Ashley Brister Rushton Farm Field Manager/ Education Coordinator Sue R. Costello GIS Coordinator Aaron de Long Rushton Farm Field Staff Fred de Long Director of Community Farm Program William R. Hartman, Jr. Director of Stewardship Lisa Kiziuk Associate Stewardship Manager Jackie Simms Community Outreach Coordinator Joyce D. Spragins Communications and Technology Manager Elizabeth A. Stokes Assistant Director of Development John G. Turgeon Director of Public Grants and Associate Director of Land Protection Willistown Conservation Trust is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under Section 501(c)3 of the I.R.S. Code. Donations are tax-deductible. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the PA Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
Saturday, September 25, 2010 2:30 – 6:00 pm Heartwood Farm Corner of Goshen and Providence Roads
Celebrate our open spaces by joining us for this family-friendly cross-country run and ramble followed by music and a festive country supper. Enjoy Willistown’s fall colors and preserved landscapes on trail loops over hill and dale. We promise fun for all — speed demons, families and dog-walkers alike. Start and finish at Heartwood Farm and then be prepared to kick up your heels! The Willistown Conservation Trust is dedicated to preserving the open land, rural character, scenic, historic and ecologically significant resources of the Willistown area and nearby communities, with particular emphasis on the Crum, Ridley and Darby Creek watersheds.