News & Events
Recent Events
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Riders head out on Warren Avenue in the Radnor Hunt Pony Club Chase ffor Conservation which benefitted Willistown Conservation Trust.  Salamanders and other critters found in a recent creek exploration teach kids about our fragile ecosystem. |
Spring Tree Plantings
Over 75 trees were planted at Kirkwood Preserve in April and May of 2010. K-5 students from Goshen Friends School helped in celebration of Earth Day. Volunteers from the community helped as part of the Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Association Streams Cleanup week in May. See photos.
Spring Wildflower Plantings
Seventh graders from Episcopal Academy helped install a new wildflower meadow at the Trust's offices. Goshen Friends students helped install a meadow at a private property in Willistown and WCT staff, trustees and their families helped install a native wildflower meadow at another private property. See photos.
Chasing for Conservation
Sunday November 8, 2009. Nearly 150 horses and riders enjoyed the trails, riding across 970 acres of protected land. For the fourth consecutive year, the Radnor Hunt Pony Club named Willistown Conservation Trust as the beneficiary of this annual event which showcases the protected open spaces and equestrian trails of the Willistown area.
Radnor Hunt Horse Trials
Saturday October 11, 2009 -for 38 years this 'horse triatholon' has been held iin the Radnor Hunt area. The competition celebrates the open spaces of the Willistown area, especially the cross country phase in which horses gallop and jump over and through natural obstacles including banks, ditches and water.
Harvest Celebration
Sunday October 25, 2009 - Pumpkin carving, hay rides, live owls, local beer, and Owl Prowl in the woods, cider and bonfire. Over 200 friends attended this glorious Autumn evening.
Run-a-Muck!
Sunday, October 4th ~ Over 350 people raced or walked over the beautiful Willistown countryside, following a 4 mile or 1.5 trail loop. A delicious country supper followed. See Run-a-Muck photos and results!
Bug Out! A Day of Insect Appreciation
Thursday, July 16th ~Attendees spent an evening at Rushton Farm and our friends from the Riverbend Environmental Education Center (Gladwyne, PA), to celebrate insect identification, education and appreciation.
Getting to Know Kirkwood Preserve
Thursday, June 25, 2009 ~ About 150 Willistown residents came to Kirkwood Preserve to get to know the picturesque Kirkwood Preserve—83 acres of open fields, mature woodlands and the meandering Crum Creek.
Invasive Plant ID Workshop
Saturday June 13, 2009 ~ Dan Baringer from Natural Lands Trust conducted this workshop providing attendees with training on how to identify invasive plants, knowledge about the ecology of the plants, and techniques to effectively and efficiently control the plants’ spread.
Gardening With Natives
Thursday June 11, 2009 ~ This course promoted the value and importance of gardening with native plants. Capitalizing on Rushton Farm’s location adjacent to a woodland preserve, we introduced the concept of “agroecology” and the interconnectedness between a sustainable farm and the natural landscape surrounding it.
Tree Planting at Kirkwood Preserve
Saturday May 30, 2009 ~ Volunteers gathered at Kirkwood Preserve to plant more trees along the Crum Creek.
Randolph Woods Stream Cleanup
On Saturday May 2 a group of friends and neighbors gathered at the Twelfth Annual Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association (CRC) Streams Cleanup, and in partnership with Willistown Township and Malvern Borough, cleaned up the Malvern’s Randolph Woods Preserve, site of a headwater of the Crum Creek that flows through Willistown to the Delaware River. See photos.
Wildflower Planting
.Over 40 kids and family members came out to the Trust offices on April 18 to plant native wildflowers and grasses, adding to the native meadow being created there. See photos.
Backyard Composting Workshop
Over 30 community members gathered at the Trust on February 25, 2009 to learn how to turn kitchen scraps and yard debris into “gardeners’ gold”, reducing their landfill footprint at the same time. Workshop participants received a complimentary Earth Machine Compost Bin.
Scott Weidensaul: Living on the Wind
Nationally known and Pulitzer Prize-nominated author spoke to us about Willistown's Most Secretive and Colorful Residents on Febrary 20, 2009.
Chase for Conservation
Nearly 150 horses and riders enjoyed the trails on November 9, 2008, riding across 970 acres of protected land. For the third consecutive year, the Radnor Hunt Pony Club named Willistown Conservation Trust as the beneficiary of this annual event which showcases the protected open spaces and equestrial trails of the Willistown area. Photos!
Stewardship Day
Over 30 worker bees came to Kirkwood and Ashbridge Preserves on October 4, and November 8, 2008 to help with tree planting, invasive plant removal, fence mending and debris removal.
Golf and Good Nature
72 foursomes enjoyed White Manor Country Club on September 29, 2008. The outing included a barbeque lunch, putting contest, silent auction and a buffet dinner.
Environmental Stewardship Festival
September 20, at Willistown Friends Meeting.
Radnor Hunt Concour d'Elegance
One of the largest and most presigious car shows in the country was held at Radnot Hunt on September 12, 13 & 14, 2008, benefitting Willistown Conservation Trust and Thorncroft. For more information visit the website.
Countryside Bash!
Over 500 people gathered at OnPoint Farm to honor the easement donors, farmers, land managers, supporters and volunteers who have made the Willistown countryside a special place.
June 15, 2008
Bird Walk & Stream Exploration
Outdoor enthusiasts met at Kirkwood Preserve for a guided bird walk and creek exploration. See photos.
May 17, 2008
Stream Cleanup at Ashbridge Preserve
Volunteers gathered at this important protected area to clean up the banks and adjacent areas of the creek.
May 3, 2008.
Dinner With Michael Ableman
Reknowned farmer, author and photographer speaks about the connection between land and food followed by a delicious dinner prepared with locally grown foods.
March 4, 2008.
Radnor Hunt Pony Club Paper Chase
A fabulous competitive trail ride through the Willistown Countryside benefitting Willistown Conservation Trust.
November 11, 2007
Family Night Out
Owl Prowl & Stargazing-Kirkwood Preserve
Friday, October 12, 2007, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Kirkwood Preserve Work Day
Tree Planting - Fence Mending - Debris Removal
Saturday, October 13, 2007, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Ashbridge Preserve Work Day
Tree Planting
Saturday, October 27, 2007, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Concours d'Elegance
A fabulous car show benefitting the Trust and Thorncroft
September 8-9, 2007
5th Annual “Golf and Good Nature”Outing
Waynesborough Country Club ~ Monday, September 24, 2007
Pollination Celebration!
Willistown Conservation Trust ~ Saturday, June 23, 2007
Pond Workshop
Rushton Farm Pond ~ Saturday, June 16, 2007
Bird Walk & Special Visit from a Live Falcon!
Kirkwood Preserve ~ Saturday, May 5, 2007
The Importance of Native Grasslands in Pennslyvania
Friday, February 23, 2007
Edgmont Country Club, Reception and Dinner Lecture
Dr. Roger Latham, an ecologist and conservation biologist, spoke on the history and current condition of native grasslands and meadows in Pennyslvania. This topic is of particular importance to the Willistown community, as our efforts to restore and manage native grasslands will greatly benefit declining grassland bird species as well as other wildlife.