Land Matters Winter 2022 | 2023

BOARD

Jennifer Trachtman

PRESIDENT

Shaun Mannix

VICE PRESIDENT

Ellen K. Scott

VICE PRESIDENT

David E. Resnik

TREASURER

Liz Andersen

Nancy Bartley

Therese Bentley

Robert R. Berry

Donna L. Brennan

Ann Dyer

James R. Fisher

Penny Hunt

L. Stockton Illoway

Gwen Kelly Klein

Cary F. Leptuck

James Moore

Edie Shean-Hammond

Ashton Simmons

Robert C. F. Willson, Esq.

STAFF

William

Pamela

CONSERVATION

Helen

Jim

Together, we can do so much

This year was special in many ways, including French & Pickering’s 55th birthday! One of the most challenging and exciting highlights of 2022 is increased land preservation in the face of increasing development. With such beautiful countryside, the land pressure for development is not going away anytime soon. Your donations provide the support we need to keep our community the special place we all know and love.

As you read about our successes and plans, the impact of your support should become even clearer. Faced with increased development pressure, you helped us to add a new staff position, Conservation Coordinator. We are thrilled this position was filled by Karl Russek who has jumped right in, collaborating with Conservation Director Pam Brown on an overflowing plate of preservation projects.

Your support of French & Pickering is also leveraged by our work with our many partners. When I reflect on the partnerships that have broadened and deepened our work over the last year, I think of Helen Keller’s quote, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” We were awarded over $1 million in public support from Chester County and local townships to protect water quality, scenic vistas and woodlands. We collaborated with over 30 members of the Hopewell Big Woods coalition to update our land preservation plan. Over 45 volunteers joined us to plant 800+ trees at the Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve and we connected owners of preserved lands with free trees to plant on their land. We hosted free educational programs with distinguished guest speakers including the wildly popular presentation Oak Trees by Doug Tallamy (visit our website to view this program and others recorded via Zoom).

In addition to preserving vulnerable land, collaborating with partners, and planting trees, we are also hard at work making our signature nature preserves a haven for visitors, nature and wildlife. Existing trails are being upgraded and new ones added, benches have been placed to offer quiet places for contemplation and water quality sampling continues to help us better understand how all the pieces of our watershed connect.

Perhaps the most surprising event in 2022 was the unearthing of four large Revolutionary War-era cannons! Averaging around 4,500 pounds, these artifacts were cast at the Warwick Furnace located on French & Pickering’s Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve. Their massive size is matched only by the large amount of urban legend surrounding their history and the excitement their discovery has generated.

We ask you to continue supporting French & Pickering with an annual contribution and also to support our capital campaign—Stand for The Land. Please keep in mind our accomplishments and how they align with your priorities as you plan your annual giving as well as your estate planning. The preservation we achieve today and the funding commitments we make will benefit us, our children and our children’s children. We have accomplished a lot in our 55 years, yet much work remains to be done to protect, preserve and steward beautiful northern Chester County. How much we accomplish depends on you. If you haven’t sent in your 55th birthday present for French & Pickering yet—it is not too late!

Best wishes for a peaceful and safe year ahead. We hope to see you at a preserve or program soon.

Bill Gladden Executive Director

Bill Gladden, Executive Director

“We have accomplished a lot in our 55 years, yet much work remains to be done to protect, preserve and steward beautiful northern Chester County. How much we accomplish depends on you.”

LETTER FROM OUR BOARD PRESIDENT

A Culture of Conservation

I had always enjoyed the rural environment, the farmland, the creeks, the woods and the fields of northern Chester County, but when founder, Eleanor Morris, invited me to join the French & Pickering Board in 2004, my affiliation with French & Pickering opened a door to so much more. Beyond the beauty of our area, French & Pickering helped my family, and so many others, to understand how that beauty contributes to air and water quality, biodiversity, wildlife … all integral contributors to the well-being of those who live here.

Just as important, beyond fostering a deeper and richer appreciation of our area, French & Pickering helped my family and our community understand how that appreciation can be translated into tangible actions that help safeguard what we value. We learned of the remarkable success French & Pickering has had in working with landowners to preserve— forever—thousands of acres of our most important open spaces. We learned how French & Pickering helped to preserve the jewel that is the Warwick Valley. We learned how French & Pickering uncovered and stabilized the ruins of the historic Warwick Furnace and created our two nature preserves, open for everyone’s enjoyment. Through French & Pickering’s lecture series and planned outings, we learned how to promote the native plants and habitats that support our most crucial pollinators, birds and other wildlife; we learned how to deal with spotted lanternflies; we learned how to help our diminishing bird population survive through the winter; we learned about the remarkable importance of oak trees … and we learned how all of us, acting individually and together, can help to safeguard our most significant natural resources and ecological systems.

During my years of involvement with French & Pickering, I have seen it evolve into a professional, results-driven organization that truly makes a difference in the lives of the people who live in northern Chester County. We are grateful for the generosity of its many donors and supporters, the commitment of the board of directors, the passion and diligence of an excellent staff, and the distinguished leadership of Executive Director Bill Gladden. The future is bright.

My childhood days in Audubon were usually spent exploring the outdoors—an outdoors that in crucial respects no longer exists, an outdoors that will no longer provide to today’s children the sense of wonder that I enjoyed. In northern Chester County, we have a rare and exceedingly important opportunity to preserve what many other communities have allowed to slip away. French & Pickering is dedicated to that mission.

I look forward to meeting and working with you in service of our respect for our natural environment, as well as the sheer joy it will bring to all of us, and those who come after us.

“Beyond the beauty of our area, French & Pickering helped my family, and so many others, to understand how that beauty contributes to air and water quality, biodiversity, wildlife … all integral contributors to the well-being of those who live here.”

Jen Trachtman President of the Board of Directors

Pickering Creeks

Jen Trachtman, Board President

“Holy Mackerel… It’s a Cannon!”

Not the typical exclamation uttered at a nature preserve. On April 14, however, they were the only words Jim Moore could find as a Revolutionary War-era cannon was unearthed at the Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve (TPBNP). Over the next three weeks, three additional cannons would be exhumed by Moore, former Warwick Township Supervisor Robert Jason Swinehart, and Ray Bentley, who funded the discovery and is a conservation easement landowner with French & Pickering.

As local lore had it, General Washington had marched his troops to Warwick Furnace to give his soldiers much-needed rest and to repair weapons. Cannons forged at Warwick Furnace were hastily buried in the surrounding fields by the Colonial Army in 1777 to prevent their capture by the British troops, which continued their relentless pursuit following victories at the Brandywine Battlefield and the Battle of the Clouds.

Built in 1737, Warwick Furnace produced various iron products including pots, clock weights and the Franklin stove. During the Revolutionary War, the Furnace began making military supplies, such as cannons and artillery. Rather than have these important weapons and munitions fall into enemy hands, it was rumored that Washington had his troops quickly bury them before fleeing the oncoming British advance.

A long-time history buff, Bentley knew only the land could confirm or dispel this myth. Working with Dr. Martin Helmke, Professor of Geology at West Chester University, the French & Pickering team used drones and cutting-edge magnetometer technology to noninvasively scan the fields surrounding Warwick Furnace. Resulting surveys indicated that large iron objects were indeed buried underground.

Armed with only picks and shovels, the discovery team dug tirelessly until they struck iron. First attempts to

unearth the 7-foot, 4,500-lb cannons with a 130-horsepower tractor failed. It would take the addition of heavy-duty lifting straps, ramp digging and over 16 hours to uncover what the Continental Army had worked just as hard to hide.

“It was thrilling,” said Bentley of the moment the first cannon came above ground. “These cannons were cast and buried at a critical time in our country’s history and rested unseen only a couple of feet below the soil for almost two and a half centuries. Their sheer size makes producing them at Warwick Furnace, and even moving them to their final resting spot, an amazing feat.”

This intersection between the ecological and historical is where the story gains its richness for French & Pickering. Our mission is to preserve, steward and connect people to the land. Many people might think this scope is limited to protecting scenic views, watersheds and wildlife for present and future generations—all incredibly

Photo credit: Claire Rosen

Photo credit: Claire Rosen

Photo credit: Claire Rosen

important goals. However, the cannon discovery highlights how French & Pickering also preserves and connects people to our historical past.

The Warwick Furnace was built within what is now called Hopewell Big Woods because the local furnaces required an acre of wood a day to fuel production. As a result, furnace operators in the 18th Century were on the cutting edge of sustainable forestry. We have much we can learn from their methods as French & Pickering embarks on our own reforestation projects within TPBNP.

French & Pickering had no idea that such important historical artifacts were hidden within TPBNP when the land was protected by conservation easement in 2015. The land was targeted for preservation as it surrounds an important part of the South Branch of the French Creek. We hope that renewed interest in the area as a result of the cannon

discovery will remind visitors of TPBNP that nature can unlock parts of ourselves as well as parts of our collective history.

Currently, French & Pickering is designing and building a structure that will display the cannons, and also effectively preserve them—a perfect symbol that land trusts don’t just preserve the future, but also the past.

Photo credit: Claire Rosen

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Trail Mix

New trails showcase the varied habitats of the Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve!

From day one on the job, Preserve Manager Jim Moffett began blazing new trails at Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve (TPBNP). Literally. As a longtime volunteer and guide, Jim came to the position knowing the lay of this beautiful land, preserved forever by French & Pickering in 2015. “One of the things I always noticed was a lack of trails in the woods,” he said. As Preserve Manager, Jim takes to heart French & Pickering’s mission to connect people to the land, which is why creating a new wooded trail for visitors to explore comfortably at any time of the year was a key objective in his new role. Jim was sensitive to creating a trail that gently meandered past the native gems that grow on the Preserve such as blackhaw viburnum and spicebush and even some spring ephemerals, such as Virginia bluebells, that bloom gloriously before the trees leaf out. He also wanted the trail to offer glimpses of the accompanying stream, which can always be heard flowing in the background. But he confesses that he had some help in designing the new path. “When I went in to really map out the trail, I was surprised that a good portion of it was already clear.” It turns out that the wildlife in TPBNP had the same idea as Jim and had carved a path long before he

arrived. “I placed a camera trap on the trail and have seen everything—deer, raccoon, possum, fox.” Recently, Jim spotted a coyote pup on the preserve. He is excited by the idea that visitors and wildlife at TPBNP are retracing each other’s steps on a daily basis.

Named after the sizable grouping of American beech in the woodland, the Beech Grove Trail is approximately one mile long and can be hiked by following the red markers. Though it has a few inclines, they are brief and shaded, making the trek family friendly.

Two additional trails have been added to TPBNP but we will leave their discovery up to you! TPBNP is open all year round from dawn to dusk.

“My wife and I took a walk today and discovered many new trails that took us through the woods! Outstanding job.”

TOM BISSINGER

Templin Woods Preserve— It’s All in the Name!

In 2020, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bill Gladden, Executive Director of French & Pickering, decided that the community needed a safe place to explore nature. With township oversight, and a lot of help from staff and volunteers, 550 acres of land owned by French & Pickering in Elverson was transformed into the Great Marsh Preserve.

Visitors quickly fell in love with the vast, peaceful unbroken forest nicknamed GMP. Cool in the summer and sun dappled in the winter, GMP was ideal for forest bathing, bird watching and tree and bark study.

But there was a problem.

Members who signed up for education programs could find themselves instead across Route 401 at the Great Marsh Institute. It was confusing.

This led French & Pickering’s Naming Committee to set about finding a better way to name the preserve. A list of all the preserves in Chester County was created

in the hopes that a pattern would emerge. It didn’t. Preserves were named after people, organizations, towns and trees.

With no clear methodology available, a name was chosen that would show reverence for this stately forest, be grounded in our community and be distinct from any other local place, park or playground.

The choice was unanimous: Templin Woods Preserve.

Where is it? On Templin Road. What is it? A large unbroken stand of trees. How is it being cared for? As a preserve. It’s all in the name!

Templin Road’s namesake is the Templin family, who lived in Nantmeal during the 17th Century. John and Anna Templin owned Warren Point, known then as Templin Farm. Their daughter Hannaette married Thomas May Potts, relative of John and Samuel Potts, owners and operators of Warwick Furnace— the ruins of which reside on French &

Pickering’s Thomas P. Bentley Preserve. It all begins to tie together.

Woods was an obvious choice to honor the preserve’s wealth of trees, as well as its native spring wildflowers, ramps and fungi. However, it also refers to habitat. Templin Woods Preserve is one of the few places to find ovenbirds, which has attracted birding experts such as Patty Werth from the Valley Forge Audubon Society. Villanova University has been conducting research on chickadees at the preserve for several years.

The final word in the name, Preserve, describes how the land will be managed: minimal intrusions, no harvesting, only some removal of invasive species by hand or blade. If a fallen tree does not pose a threat to parking or path, it will remain in place, providing important nutrition and habitat for animals. Such gaps in the canopy will allow sunlight to reach young saplings that will grow to reforest the area.

Though Templin Woods Preserve has a new name–and nickname (TWP), its 3.5-mile loop has the same magic. Whether you seek exercise, a moment of peace or a birder’s wonderland, this is the place for you. Fall programs are in full gear. Join us!

Charlestown Township: A Model for Municipal Conservation Initiatives

BY PAM BROWN

French & Pickering has enjoyed a long and productive relationship working on land conservation projects with Charlestown Township. To date, this partnership has resulted in the permanent protection of over 1,300 acres of land, thanks to their proactive Board of Supervisors, including landowner outreach by Supervisor Kevin Kuhn, a former French & Pickering Board Member. The majority of the conservation easements have been purchased through the township’s dedicated open space tax, providing residents with a return on their investment that enhances water quality, expands habitat corridors and reduces the demand for public services brought by development.

The following projects were all completed in late 2021 and early 2022. As we go to print, five new easements are in progress. We are grateful to Charlestown Township for giving French & Pickering the opportunity to save these crucial lands in the Pickering Creek Watershed.

Crowell Easement

Crowell Easement

In November 2021 and February 2022, brothers Nicholas, Christopher and Geoffrey Crowell protected a total of 111 acres through conservation easements on two properties located on Church and Charlestown Roads. The easements were funded through the township’s Open Space Initiative.

The protected properties include highly scenic viewsheds, for which Charlestown Township is known. The easements have eliminated all but six residential rights on land that could have supported many more housing sites.

Located within the Pickering Creek Watershed, the properties include heavily wooded areas, a tributary to the Pickering Creek and 71 acres of high-quality agricultural soils that will continue to be farmed. There are 31 acres of mixed-aged woodlands and a vegetated stream corridor that provides habitat to numerous plant and animal species. Both properties are near other lands under easement with French & Pickering, increasing the already expansive conservation corridor in Charlestown Township.

Charlestown has certainly changed from the 1950s, when one-lane bridges spanned the Pickering and the summer air was filled with the scent of hay from the farms. But now in 2022, quite a lot of natural beauty still remains, and we are fortunate that French & Pickering is here working to preserve and nourish this precious resource.

In recent years, it was not possible for our family to continue with the 100+ acres we owned on both sides of the valley. The easements that you helped create made it possible for us to achieve a viable solution for all owners to transition the property financially, without creating a large-scale housing development.

I am very happy that French & Pickering and Charlestown Township made all steps of the easement application such a painless process.

Thank you again for all your support and the important role you are playing in preserving the natural heritage of this special place.

CHRIS CROWELL

In March 2022, French & Pickering Board member Bob Berry placed a perpetual conservation easement on 71.6 acres. Under current zoning ordinances, the property, which is highly visible to the public from Merlin, Pikeland and Church Roads, could have had 23 more residences.

The easement, purchased by Charlestown Township, now limits the property to only four additional residential sites.

Consisting of an assemblage of five contiguous farmland parcels with rolling topography, the Berry property includes 12.6 acres of mixed-aged woodlands that provide habitat to numerous plant and animal species, as well as 50.7 acres of agricultural lands, which are currently farmed. The property also features nearly

Berry Easement

I have been a proponent of protecting land from development ever since I saw my childhood homestead succumb to a housing development. I had always intended to place a conservation easement on my current property, but delayed for years because I wasn’t sure what my neighbors would do with their land. When my neighbor to the south conserved his farm, I followed suit, with hopes that the trend will continue with my other neighbors.

ROBERT R. BERRY

a half mile of an unnamed tributary to the Pickering Creek that feeds a large pond, which is home to numerous varieties of aquatic life.

The inventory of trees is comprised of a nice selection of typical native hardwoods and evergreens, plus some useful nonnatives. Along the access road, there are white and red oaks, young sycamores and a stand of Austrian black pine. The latter is a favorite of woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees and the Tufted Titmouse. As a tree species, black pines provide roosts and nesting sites for great horned and screech owls.

Rodgers Easement

Frances Rodgers and her late husband Mike raised nine children on their 7.5-acre property on Green Lane Road in Charlestown Township. Mike was the Township Supervisor for five terms and a great supporter of the Open Space Initiative. When Frances decided to move to one of her daughter’s homes, she contracted with her neighbors Rick and Holly Bernhard to purchase the property, but she wanted it placed under conservation easement first. Charlestown Township Supervisor Kevin Kuhn brought in French & Pickering and the easement was completed on June 14, 2022.

Though a yield plan indicated that two additional houses could be constructed, all residential housing rights were eliminated through the easement agreement. As the Bernhards were interested in using the land to extend their pasture to raise cattle, the conservation easement was a perfect solution for both parties.

The Rodgers property is located within the Pickering Creek Watershed, which is designated as having high water quality by the PA Department of Environmental Protection. There are 1.25 acres of mixedaged woodlands that provide habitat to numerous plant and animal species, as well as 4.5 acres of grassy fields.

Thank you for all your help arranging that easement and for making it easy. I am so glad that I was able to conserve our property.

FRANCES RODGERS

Rodgers EasementFinalizing the conservation easement

A Partnership with Chester County and West Vincent Township Yields Another Important Save

A potential 20-house subdivision in West Vincent Township was avoided when French & Pickering preserved forever a 57.4-acre property owned by Timothy and Amanda Maxwell. The Maxwell property is an important piece that connects undeveloped lands in the area, including an additional 200 acres under easement with French & Pickering and 1,100 conserved acres at Bryn Coed Farms. Together these lands are critical to

protecting the headwaters of the French and Pickering Creeks, both tributaries of the Schuylkill River.

The Maxwell property is visible to the public for more than one quarter of a mile along Saint Matthews Road, which is a designated scenic road in the West Vincent Township Open Space and Recreation Plan. Its 49.7 acres of rolling pasturelands are considered to be “Prime Agricultural Soils” by the

Natural Resources Conservation Service. Protecting them from development will not only prevent their loss and depletion, but will also protect the biologically diverse meadow and grassland habitats that are home to native plant species. Animals will also benefit, as the easement preserves 3.7 acres of woodlands, which are host to a Bald Eagle nesting site and numerous other land and aquatic creatures.

I have been fortunate enough to spend many decades on a truly special Chester County property. When sadly it was time to move on, preserving that beautiful ground forever felt like one of the most important things I could do in my lifetime. French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust worked tirelessly to bring that dream to fruition.

AMANDA MAXWELL

The property’s perennial and intermittent streams are tributaries to the French Creek, which is designated as having exceptional value and highquality waters by the PA Department of Environmental Protection. This easement was funded by West Vincent Township, the Chester County Preservation Partnership grant program and a partial donation by the landowners.

Maxwell Easement

When it comes to buying & selling real estate in Chester County, who you work with

When it comes to buying & selling real estate in Chester County, who you work with

When it comes to buying & selling real estate in Chester County, who you work with

M A T T E R S

M A T T E R S

M A T T E R S

James A. Cochrane, Inc. has been privileged to represent many clients in the sale & acquisition of F&P Creeks Conservation Trust eased properties.

James A. Cochrane, Inc. has been privileged to represent many clients in the sale & acquisition of F&P Creeks Conservation Trust eased properties.

James A. Cochrane, Inc. has been privileged to represent many clients in the sale & acquisition of F&P Creeks Conservation Trust eased properties.

www.cochraneinc.com 610.469.6100

www.cochraneinc.com 610.469.6100

www.cochraneinc.com 610.469.6100

French & Pickering Awarded Two Open Space Conservation Grants Totaling $759,020

On May 25, 2022, the Chester County Commissioners awarded French & Pickering two grants, totaling $759,020 for open space conservation and recreation. The two grants were part of the county’s 3.2 million dollar Preservation Partnership Program.

The first award for $640,000, with consideration to be given for an additional $442,000 in county grant funds, helps an ongoing effort to permanently preserve 126.2 acres of the Camp Innabah property in East Vincent Township. This builds on a $252,000 commitment from East Vincent Township. A request for state grant funds is pending. Operated as a summer camp for decades, the majority of the site is undeveloped and contains forested

and shrub wetlands, acres of hydric soils and various vegetative types. The easement will allow recreational access, as well as long-term enhancement of a key portion of the French Creek Trail. Most significantly, this easement will protect critical floodplain and wetland habitats, providing critical ecosystem services such as floodwater storage, groundwater protection and sediment stabilization. French & Pickering is grateful to the Eastern Conference of the United Methodist Church and their local representatives for the opportunity to fully explore the preservation potential of this exciting project.

The second grant includes $119,020 for a farmland conservation easement on the 37.4-acre Nesspor property.

Sloping upward from Ellis Woods Road, the majority of the land has been cleared for agriculture, but does feature a ravine, a pond and small woodland, as well as a farmhouse and other outbuildings. A long-time target for conservation, East Coventry Township has committed $302,800 of its own funds to ensure the farm’s prime agricultural soils are protected from residential development.

The Nesspor property was a high priority for French & Pickering as it lies within Hopewell Big Woods, which is the last, large unbroken forest in southeastern PA. Together with our land protection partners, we have protected more than 12,000 acres of this critical migration and waterway corridor.

Establishing the Roots of Conservation

At the end of the day, each camper got to take home a robust two-foot red oak to plant at home. “These were no twigs with just a few leaves,” said Jim Moffett of the Quercus rubra saplings sourced from Octoraro Native Plant Nursery. Red oaks were also given to the camp, which were planted on the property by the children.

As the children see their trees grow with them through the years, we hope they continue to nurture their link to nature as well. “Connecting children to nature is vitally important as they are the future stewards of our planet. The more a person learns about nature—whether it’s trees, animals, geology, etc.—the more they come to appreciate it and value it,” says Colleen.

Establishing roots is not just critical for new plants, it is also essential for our children, to foster the next generation of conservationists.

Few places offer children a better place to germinate a love of nature than Miss Betty’s Day Camp. A fixture within the Chester Springs community for over 70 years, Miss Betty’s has been preserved forever through a conservation easement with French & Pickering.

In late July, environmental educator Colleen Cranney and French & Pickering Preserve Manager Jim Moffett visited the beloved camp to talk everything trees with 180 children. In today’s world of screens and short attention spans, the pair were not sure what to expect. To their delight each group of campers was actively engaged as they learned about the defining characteristics and uses of trees, with special attention given to the many benefits of the mighty oak.

Even the teen counselors joined in when the children pretended they themselves were going through the lifecycle of a tree—curling up into a seed shape and then gradually growing taller and furling out foliage (pictured right).

It is free, family-friendly programming such as this that speaks to French & Pickering’s mission to steward a love of the land in all ages.

Seeing the Forest for the Trees

An Update on TreeVitalize at the Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve

It is hard to believe it has been a year since nearly 800 trees and shrubs were planted in our Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve (TPBNP) as part of the TreeVitalize Watersheds Grant Program. Funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, AquaPA and PECO, TreeVitalize focuses on planting trees along stream corridors in sensitive water protection zones. The designated parcel in TPBNP was a natural fit because of its proximity to the South Branch of the French Creek, a rare ecosystem in the region.

Over two weekends last December, French & Pickering Preserve Manager Jim Moffett, and Assistant Manager Austin Graver, transformed an open field into a burgeoning forest. However, before the planting auger could break ground, extensive planning and field preparation had to take place, beginning with the removal of invasive Multiflora rose and Autumn olive, which dominated the landscape. The area was then marked

with flags in a 10 by 10 grid to designate the placement of various canopy trees selected for their hardiness and benefit to insects and wildlife. Several species of oak were planted, as well as sycamore, maple, birch and hickory. White pines were included as they provide critical nesting and protective roost sites for owls and hawks.

In designing the planting, it was important to Jim that a variety of understory trees and shrubs be interplanted among the large hardwoods to better mimic the compilations seen in natural forests. Plants such as hornbeam, serviceberry, viburnum and elderberry will work to fill in gaps, while providing food for wildlife and preventing the reestablishment of invasive plants. With such careful selection, Jim and Austin have observed a 90% survival rate over the past year. This success can also be attributed to diligent maintenance and protection of the fledgling forest. Cages and tree tubes have fended off

damage by deer and rodents. Biweekly mowing and trimming around the base of plants has effectively limited competition from weeds. As with any new planting, adequate water is critical for establishment. Jim keeps a close, constant eye on rain gauges and soil moisture. Though extreme heat hit the area over the summer, rains always came at just the right time to make supplemental watering infrequent—a huge relief, as watering 800 trees requires over 20 hours, or three full work days.

Though only a year old, this reforestation initiative is already irresistible to birds. The opening of the tree tubes had to be netted to prevent Eastern bluebirds from climbing inside and unintentionally getting stuck! Visitors to TPBNP are welcome to check on the progress of French & Pickering’s TreeVitalize efforts, which are located along the marked trails. Bring your camera, as you are sure to see something worth capturing.

Habitat Spotlight: Lawns and Meadows Matter

monocultures of one or several species that preclude native plants from growing and do little to enhance soil quality. Lawns also offer little to no food, shelter or habitat for native wildlife, negatively impacting local food webs. Compared to native habitats, dense-growing turf grass provides marginal water infiltration, leading to increased runoff and poor water quality, especially when the lawn has been treated with pesticides or herbicides.

and attract a kaleidoscope of butterflies, native solitary bees and countless other pollinators. These native insects will feed, reproduce, shelter and overwinter in your meadow while boosting the production of seeds, fruits and nuts in your landscape.

There are over two million acres of lawn in Pennsylvania (DCNR 2020) and the majority is composed of a mix of cool-season fescue grasses. These grasses thrive during cooler weather, turn brown to conserve energy in the summer, then resume growing in the fall as temperatures drop. This skewed lifecycle requires frequent watering and fertilizing to compel these cool-season grasses to maintain their lush, green appearance during our hot summers. As yearly temperatures rise (along with the cost of water and gasoline), maintenance time and costs will only increase.

From an ecological perspective, lawns are nearly sterile habitats. They are dense

So how do you liberate your yard from a maintenance-heavy lawn while creating your own backyard ecosystem? Plant a meadow!

First, let’s just say, meadows are beautiful. In all their lanky untidiness, they offer spectacular native wildflowers and grasses that will bloom all season

Those are just the visible benefits! Your meadow will also provide habitat for a host of detritivores, like beetles and millipedes, which feed on spent organic material. This action releases stored nutrients back into the soil—all of which provides food for birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, creating a robust and healthy food web in your small suburban habitat.

Additionally, warm-season grasses and native wildflowers have deep root systems that access water that turf grass cannot during the summer months, which means little to no watering and no chemicals.

In the first three years, your meadow will need periodic mowing to manage the existing seed bank and allow the slowergrowing native perennials time to establish and diversify. This investment in highspecies diversity will improve groundwater infiltration and water quality.

If you would like more information on planting a backyard meadow, please contact Karena (kdileo@frenchandpickering.org).

Calling all Easement Landowners: Would you like trees?

French & Pickering is partnering with Chester County Conservation District to distribute native trees and shrubs to our easement landowners through the Keystone Ten Million Trees Partnership.

Planting native plants is vital to promoting a healthy, robust ecosystem. These plants are best adapted to local growing conditions and adept at purifying our air, water and soil. Native plants are the basis for food webs, provide critical structure for wildlife and preserve our local biodiversity. This year, we have provided 250 trees and shrubs to our landowners to enhance habitat. If you are interested in trees or shrubs for Spring 2023, please contact Karena (kdileo@frenchandpickering.org).

French

Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust

Now more than

we must Stand for the Land

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Chester County’s Planning Commission projects that 11,735 additional households will be added to northern Chester County by 2025. Over ten thousand acres may be developed or preserved forever. The time to act is now. Join the case for conservation.

Nantmeal

Pikeland

“Land conservation is most effectively done at the local level and that is why French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust is so important. I hope this early contribution … will inspire others, hopefully younger northern Chester County residents, to support French & Pickering and its mission.”

Our local conservation community suffered a major loss in 2022 with the passing of Patricia St. Georges.

Better known to friends as Trish, she made a lasting impact on our region by founding East Nantmeal Land Trust (ENLT) in 2002, where she also served as Chair and Board Member. French & Pickering thanks Trish for being a Morris Society Member.

Trish formed a formidable team with Pam Brown (French & Pickering Conservation Director) and Jim Moore (Great Marsh Institute) to successfully defend properties surrounding Great Marsh Preserve from development.

Pam Brown reflects, “I worked with Trish on many conservation projects over a 10-year period and enjoyed her wit, knowledge and total commitment to everything that would benefit East Nantmeal and the environment.”

Trish’s impact on land conservation in Chester County will be felt for years to come through a generous bequest of $75,000 made to French & Pickering’s Morris Society.

LASTING LEGACIES

Planned giving allows anyone to make a substantial contribution to French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust—regardless of income or financial status. It is a way to level the playing field, giving everyone a chance to become a philanthropist and make a difference. And it provides significant financial benefits to you as well.

Wondering how to include French & Pickering in your legacy? Visit frenchandpickering.planned.gifts/.

We gratefully acknowledge Morris Society members who have generously included French & Pickering in their estate plans. They embody the stewardship, ethics and forethought that drive our work today, tomorrow and forever.

THE MORRIS LEGACY SOCIETY Ann H. Brewster Harry T. Burhans* Nancy Corson Ann and Bradley Dyer Holly and Richard S. Gross Elizabeth Higham* Eleanor Morris Illoway* L. Stockton Illoway

“Trish was a strong defender of the environment and a big proponent of conservation.”  STOCK ILLOWAY, FRENCH & PICKERING BOARD MEMBER

Pickering Creeks

KATE DAMSGAARD

STAND FOR THE LAND SUPPORTER Gwen Kelly Klein Deborah McKechnie Lawrence Liss and Celeste McQuade Margaret L. and Hank Pellegrini Cheston Simmons* Patricia St. Georges* Robert C.F. Willson

*cum stellarum

Doubling Down on Conservation

WELCOME KARL RUSSEK

This spring, French & Pickering welcomed Karl Russek to the team as our new Conservation Coordinator. This position was created as a result of the generous supporters who contributed to our ongoing Stand For The Land capital campaign. In his new role, Karl will be supporting Conservation Director Pam Brown in identifying and negotiating land preservation opportunities throughout northern Chester County, effectively doubling our on-the-ground presence.

A proud, long-time resident of Hopewell Big Woods, Karl grew up in the coalfields of Schuylkill County, right at the headwaters of the Schuylkill River. There he observed firsthand the enduring impacts of unrestrained human activity on the environment. “In many cases, severe impacts to land and water from mining activities, which ended 75 to 100 years ago, continue to this day. At the same time, I got to experience pockets of amazing untouched forest that gave a sense of what the area could have been like if the impacts had been better managed.”

Karl encountered a similar dichotomy in the landscape when he left his first career

as a middle school science teacher to study aquatic science and environmental restoration at the University of Alaska, in the years immediately after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. “The contrast between amazing natural beauty and utter devastation really informed my early worldview.”

As a result, Karl dedicated the majority of his career to building and managing the international environmental risk business of a leading global insurer. Most recently, he served as the Director of Programs and Applied Research at the Water Center of the University of Pennsylvania, where he focused on building partnerships for integrated watershed management across the urban/rural divide. Though involved in large-scale environmental problem solving and solutions, Karl’s appreciation for the impact of individuals on the collective health of the planet through local action has grown exponentially.

“I think we need to talk more about the very real positive aggregate impacts of small changes we can all make,” he says. Too often the big issues and

their solution can monopolize the conversation when it comes to the environment and conservation, as they garner more clicks and sell ads. This can mislead the everyday citizen into a misplaced faith that a magic bullet exists or a sense of despair that only the heavy hitters can make a true difference.

“It creates a barrier to our being more thoughtful as to how we live and why,” he notes.

In his work with French & Pickering, Karl is seeking to empower individuals when it comes to safeguarding the health of their environment. “We don’t all own hundreds of acres we can protect. We don’t all need to live as subsistence farmers, but we can make individual choices with following generations in mind. This includes things such as showing up at meetings, building community, and getting involved at a local level—so much of this important work happens quietly at a local level. You are usually having a greater impact than you think.”

Have you ever wondered, What exactly is a “Land Trust”?

Though French & Pickering’s full name includes the words creeks and conservation, the common name for an organization that does the type of work that we do is “land trust.” Land trusts are non-profit organizations that work in cooperation with landowners to permanently preserve land through purchase or conservation easement.

Permanent preservation of land aims to:

• protect water quality

• save wildlife habitats

• provide recreational activities (fishing, hunting, birdwatching)

• create parks, trails and game lands

• support local economies by preserving farmland for crops and forests for timber production

• save scenic views from high-density subdivision

• conserve green infrastructure to mitigate flood events

Land trusts, such as French & Pickering, that own nature preserves that are open to the public also work to maintain trails and recreational facilities, host education programs and restore streams and forests.

When landowners place their property under conservation easement with French & Pickering, a mutual agreement is made to preserve the land that benefits the public interest. The easement limits the use of the land to achieve specific conservation objectives, such as eliminating development or reducing the number of potential residential housing sites.

The private landowners continue to hold possession of the land, without any government ownership. The land can still be used for various purposes by the landowner, so long as those uses are in compliance with the parameters outlined within the easement agreement.

A conservation easement does not automatically grant the public access to the property, unless the owner expressly grants those privileges. However, public access to preserved land (even if only a public viewshed) is often an objective of both the land trust and owners when creating the conservation easement.

SMALL YET MIGHTY French & Pickering Receives Top Ranks Among Pennsylvania Land Trusts

When it comes to land conservation, Pennsylvania is impressive. Since the start of 2022, a total of 817,178 acres have been protected, according to the Land Trust Census Report recently published by WeConservePA. Almost the size of Washington D.C. and Rhode Island combined!

Over the past decade, the state has seen a 36% gain in acres conserved. This increase was made possible through the tireless dedication of 68 land trusts working within the state, along with the generous support of their respective communities.

French & Pickering received top rankings across all five categories evaluated in the WeConservePA report. Despite our modest size, of the 68 accredited land trusts in Pennsylvania, French & Pickering ranked as shown below.

Where We Rank

NUMBER OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS

OF

EASEMENTS

OF

TO GOVERNMENT

IN

Out of 68 accredited land trusts in Pennsylvania, French & Pickering received top rankings in all categories

Nature Programming is a Winner!

French & Pickering’s programs and events were extremely popular and saw record attendance again this year. There were a wide variety of hikes and informative presentations exploring our environment. Many thanks to Co-chairs Penny Hunt and Gwen Kelly Klein and the French & Pickering Program Committee volunteers for the time and energy they invest in developing these wonderful programs.

EDUCATIONAL LECTURES

Over 1,070 participants enjoyed our virtual lecture series. A few of our most popular speakers included: Doug Tallamy, lecturer and author of The Nature of Oaks, who illuminated the seasonal cycles and fascinating web of wildlife supported by oak trees. He also shared practical advice about the planting and care of oaks in our own backyards.

Chris Wells of the Valley Forge Audubon Society, who lent his expert knowledge of birdseed and feeders as he discussed their various types, benefits and uses for feeding birds in winter.   Sam Hoadley, Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba Center, who shared which native plants performed best in recent horticultural trials and which cultivars proved best for gardens in the mid-Atlantic region. Missed a program or want to see it again? Access program recordings in the lecture library on French & Pickering’s website.

Our monthly hikes filled up quickly as members and the community at large enjoyed a variety of nature-focused themes, some of which included: Worm Moon Walk: Pennsylvania Master Naturalist Patty Werth from the Valley Forge Audubon Society led a walk under the full March Worm Moon, revealing the plant life and creatures of the night. Right on cue, at 20 minutes

after sunset, a woodcock was heard and observed at the Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve. Walkers also gathered for a post-hike tailgate.

Spring Peeper Walk: Biologist and amphibian expert Scott Bush led an evening stroll through the Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve as the spring peepers emerged from their slumber to chirp their sleigh bell-like calls.

The Forest in Spring: Environmental Educator Colleen Cranney guided an immersive children’s sensory walk at the Templin Woods Preserve.

Native Plants & Wildflower Walk: French & Pickering’s own Master Naturalist and Preserve Manager Jim Moffett helped attendees sharpen their identification skills on a walk through the Templin Woods Preserve, highlighting its many species.

information on upcoming events,

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EDUCATIONAL HIKES

Thank you

$10,000-$100,000

Archie W. and Grace Berry Foundation

Tom Baldwin

Keith and Rene Bentley

Raymond and Therese Bentley Dr. Barry and Therese Bentley Blue Sky Family Foundation

Robert and Shelley Casciato French Creek Iron Tour George and Miriam Martin Foundation

L. Stockton Illoway

Gwen Kelly Klein

Dr. Su Carroll Kenderdine Cary Leptuck and Nancy Corson Marshall-Reynolds Foundation

Ranney and Terri Moran

John and Shirley Nash Dr. Lawrence and Harriet Stone

Vanguard Charitable

$5,000-$9,999

Bentley Systems, Inc.

Robert and Laura Snead Berry

BMS Matching Gift Program Dr. Markley Boyer Donna Brennan and James L. Bergey

Timothy Maxwell Amanda Maxwell

Merck Matching Gifts

Naturescapes Landscape Specialists

Ellen K. Scott

Thomas and Marjorie Seibert Peter and Eliza Zimmerman

$1,000- $4,999

4 Seasons Arborscapes, LLC Alliance Environmental Systems, Inc.

Aqua Charitable Trust

The Aranda Group

BNY Mellon Wealth Management Bill and Annemarie Cochrane Aaron Cohen and Liana Yoo

Nicholas Crowell

Christopher Crowell

Geoffrey Crowell

Cullen Construction, Inc. Customized Energy Solutions, Ltd. Katherine & Kell Damsgaard Robert and Denise Davis Donald Pell Gardens

Dr. Donald J. Rosato Charitable Foundation

Dr. Bradley and Ann Dyer Facebook Matching Gifts Fiduciary Trust International GBH Foundation Trust Griffiths Construction, Inc.

The Hankin Group Donna and Vince Hartnett David Herbener and Julie Kiselica Jean Humphreys

Penny and John Hunt

James A. Cochrane, Inc. Realtor Karen Beam Architects, LLC

Kimberton Whole Foods

Ann and Robert Kline

Lamb McErlane PC Lentz, Cantor & Massey, Ltd.

LS Stone Masonry

Manito Abstract Company

Kevin and Maura McLaughlin

Meliora Design

Meridian Bank Jim and Joan Moore Andrew Motel Arthur Newbold Susan O’Donnell PECO

Hank and Molly Pellegrini Peter Zimmerman Architects, Inc. Pickering Hunt Pony Club Pride & Joy Earthcare David Resnik

John Rice

The Seltzer Family Foundation Jen and Michael Trachtman Richard and Carolyn Veith Molly Waterman

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. West Vincent Township Wharton Business Group, LLC Robert and Sheryl Willson Chris Wright YourCause, LLC

$500-$999

Alliances Insurance Agency

John and Kathleen Arnold, Jr. Robert and Margaret J. Arnold Bartlett Tree Experts Nancy Bartley and John Matthews Bernadette and James Berardinelli Thomas and Kristen Bissinger Bohem Associates

CAF America Comcast CertaPro Painters of the Main Line Connectivity Systems, Inc. Delaware Valley Paving Rebecca and Tom Diederich

Kara Dougherty

East Pikeland Township

George and Angela Elser Philip Grant

Katrina and Blair Hellebush Herbein + Company, Inc. Jerry and Lizanne Holbrook Melissa and Richard Holmes James and Karl Jackson Johnson & Johnson

Joseph Piscitello Law Susan and Daniel Knoble Konell Insurance Land Services USA, Inc. Keith Layton

Mike Lehman

Russell Mead Nolan Painting Pickering Valley Feed & Farm Sara Shick

Laura and Ronald Siena Sila Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc Ginny and Steven Somers

Peter Szabo

Jim Wiley

$100-$499

Hampton Addis Amazon Smile Foundation AmerisourceBergen Harold and Theresa Andes Linda Appler

Diane Asti Backyard Orchard Consulting Kirk Banfield

BBT Bank - Phoenixville Cindy and Raymond Beckler, Jr. Steven Bell

The Benevity Community Impact Fund

Your donations are making a difference for future generations. Please consider continuing your support! Every donation to French & Pickering goes directly to funding the preservation of landscapes in northern Chester County. Below is a snapshot of our generous donors from 2021. We are immensely grateful for your help in keeping northern Chester County preserved for future generations! Today, we continue to need your help more than ever, so please consider joining our 2022 end of year giving and 2023 membership!

Inside these pages you’ll find an envelope ready to send back to French & Pickering with your generous donation. If you’re more comfortable giving online, visit frenchandpickering.org/giving to make a one-time or recurring donation to French & Pickering.

Michael Benton

Kimberly Billesbach and Alan Scholl

Kathleen Binard

Bart Bleyen

Catherine Bodo

Susan and Craig Bolinger Adrienne and Scott Boyance

CAF America State Farm Patricia and Lee Calhoon Carroll Engineering Corporation Dan Cathers

Ann and Adam Cathers

Charlestown Paving & Excavating, Inc

Hsiao-Ming Chen Nina and Stephen Christiansen Edward Claghorn

Cynthia Ann and Mark Clark

Dr. Donald and Barbara Cook Dianason and Jonathan Cormack William Covaleski

Martha Coyle

John Crampton

Colleen & William Cranney George and Linda Csete Maria Dalton

James and Sallie Davis

Kate and Brad DeForest Gail Dewees

Tony and Jeanne DiFrancesco, Jr.

J. Patrick and Zoey Dougherty

Jeanne and Frank Dzedzy Martha and George Edwards Elise Erler

Katherine and Barrett Farnham, Jr.

Stephen Fernands

Donald Finn and Liz Rutter

James R. and Suzanne Fisher

Jim and Deborah Fooskas, Jr. Frank and Terry Foster III Dr. Richard and Raymondo Fried Dr. Leslie Gall and Warren Mann Dr. Ernest and Jane Gillan Dr. Hyman and Ellen Gillman Judy and Pete Goodman, III Kristine and Alexander Gordon-Watson Laura and Frank Grablutz Michael Groman

Dr. Louis and Jeanne Guernsey, Jr. Kevin and Pamela Hicks

A. Dunham and Edith Hollister, Jr. HomeLight Inc. John and Sewall Hornsey Wendy and Evan Hunt

Joseph Huston

InLand Design, LLC Robyn Jeney Timothy Johnston Debra and Bruce Kabrich Lisa and Fred Karl Ben and Natalie Keenan Sara Kellerman Jonas Kelly Mark Kern

Donald & Carol Kirkland, Jr. Luciana and Michael Koenig Kurt Leininger

Celeste McQuade and Larry Liss Lynneth Lohse

Nancy Long and Peter Segal Denise Lorback Allison and John Mallamo Colleen and Howard Marano Eric Matheson

Robert McDevitt Kate McGrath Barry McHale Deborah McKechnie Raymond and Mimi McOrmond Cynthia and Richard Melsheimer Dr. Dennis and Lysa Monteiro Sonje and Robert Moore Carol and Arthur Morath, Jr. Moira and Kenneth Mumma Rev. W. Jeffrey and Kathleen Nagorny Patricia Nastase National Bank of Malvern Nicolas and Patricia Nauta Jean and Paul Nemeth Raymond and Mary Nestorick Network for Good Steven Noone Joanne and Jeffrey Nuscher O’Donnell, Weiss & Mattei, P.C. Steve Oliver Matt Pappajohn Janet Parry

Marina Pavluk

Christopher Peeples Dr. Lenore Plotkin Erin and Randall Richard Leslie Rohrbach

Louis Rosenthal Suzanne Roth and George Graham Nicholas Rotoli

The Satanoff Agency Marcia and Charles Saunders Mary Savage Mr. Eric Schier Katie and Karl Schoettle

Edie Shean-Hammond Dr. Steven Shuchat and Dr. Veda Maany

Barbara Jo Stafford

Colleen and Duane Stanton Jane Street

Blake Swihart and John Allor Amanda Swope-Joos Rush Taggart and Dorothy Bedford

Theurkauf Design & Planning LLC Brad Tiffany

Sharon and Donald Trevoy Susan Truitt

Howard Twaddell

Esther and Walter Underhill Valerie M. Jones Associates Laura and Curtis Vattilana Visual Edge LLC

Stephen Walter Gary and Jean Warrick Patricia and Christopher Washburn Robert and Margi Watters

Patty and John Werth

Sandra and Kenneth West Jelissa and Bryan Weston Cathie Whitlock

Thomas Whitman

William Wood Company

Robert and Tami Wise, Jr. Mary Ann and J. Kenneth Wittle Ellie and Richard Wolf Minturn Wright III Yellow Springs Farm Sherley Young

Susanna and Dunwoody Zook

UP TO $99

Elisabeth Aaron

William Abraczinskas

Kenneth and Dana Alan

Edward Allinson

Mikael and Paige Appler

A. Joseph and Ann Armstrong

Richard Ash

Denise and Daniel Barringer

Todd Bearman

Carole Biddy

Sharon Bitler

Leslie Bluestone Sarah Boucas Neto

Diane Boyd Jennifer and Andrew Brandt

Pamela Brown

Domenick Camorote

Charity On Top Foundation, Inc.

F.C. Colosimo

Andrew Conboy

Bill Cooney

David and Patricia Creagan

Stephen Cronin

Matthew Cross Marie and Les Dalton-Meyer

Lillian and Fred Danziger

Thomas DeLucia, Jr.

Ms. Denise Devlin

Carol Ann Dieter

Karena DiLeo

Beth Doherty

Joan Dougherty

Dr. Erin and James Downes

Terri Drumel

Mark Dyer

Constance and John Erbe

Fidelity Charitable Trust

Jacqueline Finkelstein

Shanlee Fisher Maureen Fitzpatrick

Modesto Fiume

Diane Flynn

Mary Foote

Wendy Fox

Bernadette and James Garrison

Richard Garrity

Adam Gaston

Drew Gilchrist

Alvin Gilens

Peter Githens

Dr. Peggy Glaser

Global Impact Margaret Grady

Deborah Hamsho

Holly Haney

Monty Harris

Ms. Hartzell Hartzell

Jeanette and David Hedrick Michael Heinz

Christopher Holroyde Jeffrey Howard Stacey Hunsberger Gary and Michael Jenkins Samantha Jouin

JustGiving Andy Kalish Howard Kallender

Suzanne and Frank Kaplan

Dr. Mojdeh and Peter Keykhah Stephen Kirton Michelle and Martin Kullen Lisa and Dan LaCroix

Christopher Linzey

Ken Louis

Barbara Mako

Laura Markley Eric Matuszak

Anne and Bernard Meagher, Jr. Manny Menendez

Brigitte Meyer

Mark Miles

Fred Minahan

Peter and Jane Moffett

Sam and Carolyn Morris Brian Mudri

Barb Mulckhuyse

Seamus Mulryan Cynthia, Neel

Madelyn Ohara

Stephanie and Bryan Oscarson Amanda and Matt Piechota Maureen Pomante Mark and Linda Putnam Daniel Ratliff

Fred and Suzanne Reisser Amy Ripson Karl Russek

Barbara and John Schneider Molly Scott

Kenneth Seiler Dixon Shay Patrick Shea Leanne and Jeff Shelton Ashton Simmons Lana and Ronald Sloto Philip Smith Nathaniel Smith Mary Ann and Robert Snyder Patricia Spackman Robert Terefenko Steven and Paula Terrell Elliot Titcher

United Way of Chester County David VanHorn Barbara and Merrill Walters Kate Wason Stephen Way Mary Webster John Weis

Susan and William Whitehead Mary Wickerham

David Wierz

Report includes gifts and pledges made to French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust from January 1, 2021 through January 15, 2022. Gifts received after January 15, 2022 will be reported next year. Every attempt has been made to produce an accurate report. To report errors or omissions, please contact Kersten Appler, Director of Development & Operations, at kappler@frenchandpickering.org.

Thank You, Members!

Without you, we could not protect the beautiful views we all cherish, maintain the water quality in our streams or provide free, well-rounded educational programming that opens up the wonder of the natural world to all ages.

In 2022, we were pleased to see so many new names appearing on our membership lists for the first time! Welcome to all of our newest members—we are thrilled that you have decided to Stand for the Land! Along with the new members, we heartily welcomed back our returning members. Thank you! We rely upon your individual donations to keep our office and conservation programs running.

In 2022, we had the pleasure of meeting our newest members and rekindling friendships with returning members at member events including a Preservation Party at the home of Julian Gorelli and Susan Berry-Gorelli, a nature hike with Master Naturalist Jim Moffett at the Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve and our inaugural members-only hike and barbecue at the Templin Woods Preserve. Healthy exercise, wonderful food and camaraderie in beautiful woodlands—is there anything better?

Members also enjoyed priority access to our monthly nature hikes, including the very popular Worm Moon Walk that was followed by a tailgate social. Membership has benefits!

PATH FINDER ($50-$249)

Receive an invitation to an exclusive, member-only Third Thursday event, early registration for popular programs and the 2023 edition of Land Matters, French & Pickering’s annual magazine. As a member you will be welcome to take advantage of volunteer opportunities and join us for educational programming for adults and families.

STREAM SEEKER

In addition to Path Finder benefits, receive an invitation to two guided nature walks.

TRAIL BLAZER

Join us for an invitation-only Annual Hike & BBQ in addition to the Path Builder & Stream Seeker benefits.

EXPLORER

Explorers receive the above member benefits as well as an exclusive invitation to a Preservation Party. More exciting and creative programs are in store for next year! We welcome your feedback on your membership experience so far and hope to deepen our relationship with you and your commitment to conservation in 2023. To share feedback, please email Kersten at kappler@frenchandpickering.org.

Stand for the Land! (…to protect the water)

The vision of our founders, Sam and Eleanor Morris, emanated from their 500+ acre farm along the banks of the French Creek. Beginning with their own backyard, then working upstream and down, a major undertaking was launched—one that has resulted in the permanent preservation of over 13,350 acres. Sam and Eleanor forged a path on the cutting edge of conservation by focusing on clean, healthy creeks through land preservation. It is reflected in our name: French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust. Each capitalized word is significant. This early understanding of the interdependency of land and water has only grown deeper and wider over French & Pickering’s 55-year existence.

Even if you personally do not get to enjoy northern Chester County’s preservation gems on a regular basis, you are likely benefitting daily from the health of our local environment—especially our waterways. You might not be aware that the health and resilience of the creeks in our small corner of northern Chester County are critically important to the entire region. These amazing resources directly benefit millions of people and businesses in the Schuylkill and Delaware River Watersheds, who rely on them for drinking water and recreation.

“The best way we can prepare for the environmental complications that come with climate change is to protect and, when possible, improve the natural function of our watersheds. Land preservation remains the best investment in long-term regional resilience of green infrastructure.”

French and Pickering Creeks are both tributaries to these larger watersheds and are designated as having exceptional value and high-quality water by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Though we can take pride in the status of this important regional public health “green infrastructure,” we must recognize that it does not sit in an ideal natural state.

Over 300 years of timbering, agriculture and industry have taken a noticeable toll, which is only increasing under the ongoing pressures from development.

What happens next to a stream is critically important to its health. We are fortunate that municipalities in our area have long recognized this correlation by requiring forested riparian buffers and setbacks. Emerging science supports the validity of such policies through studies that clearly show that one of the best predictors of stream health is overall forest

cover within a watershed. Such findings are why French & Pickering is going beyond protecting land to also initiate reforestation projects on our own nature preserves and with landowners who have placed their properties under conservation easement.

In Fall 2021, French & Pickering planted 800 trees and shrubs at the Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve as part of TreeVitalize, a grant program through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (featured on page 17). Earlier this year, we worked with six landowners who preserved their land with French & Pickering to plant 68 trees, and have more than twice that amount scheduled for this fall. Additionally, French & Pickering’s Pam Brown continues to serve as Coordinator for the Hopewell Big Woods Partnership, which is a group of over 30 government agencies, municipal entities and private non-profits that are collaborating to conserve 4,000 acres of

old growth and 15,000 acres of unbroken forest to better protect the watersheds supported by Hopewell Big Woods.

The science is also clear that the issues of water quality and water quantity cannot be separated. The interaction of the two becomes more important in the face of climate change. Regional climate models project more total precipitation, and more intense precipitation events. We are already seeing this in Chester County, which receives four more inches of rain annually than it did in 1970.

The best way we can prepare for the environmental complications that come with climate change is to protect and, when possible, improve the natural function of our watersheds. Land preservation remains the best investment in long-term regional resilience of green infrastructure.

As involved as French & Pickering is in highly visible water conservation initiatives and projects, we ultimately owe our success and effectiveness to

the generous donors, landowners and volunteers who support us every step of the way. We hope you will continue to join us in carrying on the legacy of Sam and Eleanor Morris to secure a healthy future for ourselves and the next generations by maintaining and improving the health of our waterways through land conservation.

If you have property you would like to see preserved, let’s talk about how we can help you meet your goals. If you are one of the landowners who has already partnered with French & Pickering through a conservation easement, Thank You!

If you are a volunteer, donor or ambassador of good will, we are grateful for your generosity and that you value our region enough to play an active role in preserving northern Chester County’s amazing open space. Whichever way you stand for the land, know you stand together in a community that is truly making a difference. Let’s keep going!

Making the Case for Conservation to Mitigate Flooding

French & Pickering is excited to be the recipient of a 2022 Land and Climate Grant in the amount of $14,900 from the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) and the Open Space Institute (OSI). The project, entitled “Reframing Land Trust Priorities and Public Communication to Respond to Climate Change Impacts,” will pull together the latest land use and climate data and projections from multiple sources in a public-friendly, GIS-based tool to make the case for land preservation as the single most cost-effective investment in climate resilience for the region.

We will also use the results of this effort to inform our land preservation planning. Our watersheds are already seeing more, and more intense, rainfall—right in line with global models. With last year’s flooding from Hurricane Ida fresh in local minds, it is important we broaden our message to landowners and municipal officials to draw clearer connections between upstream land use and downstream flooding (and its disproportionate social and financial impacts). We’ll be working with experts from the LTA, Villanova and the University of Pennsylvania on both the science and our communication of it. We look forward to unveiling our work in the second half of 2023!

This project was supported through the Land and Climate Grant Program, a joint initiative of Open Space Institute and Land Trust Alliance made possible with funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Jane’s Trust Foundation, the J.M. Kaplan Fund, the Volgenau Foundation and the William Penn Foundation.

French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust frenchandpickering.org

French & Pickering’s Board of Directors Welcomes New Member Liz Anderson

We welcome the newest addition to French & Pickering’s Board of Directors: Liz Andersen. As the co-founder and manager of Charlestown Farm and the Phoenixville Farmers’ Market, Liz plays a vital role in providing fresh, healthy food to our community. She and her family live at Broadwater Farm where they have an orchard, raise Black Angus cattle and keep a flock of home chickens. She believes that active use of open space using sustainable agricultural practices is critical to preserving farmland and improving community and environmental health.

Liz served on the board of Lundale Farm and continues to serve on its property committee.

She is a graduate of Amherst College and received an MBA from the Wharton School in 1985. We are grateful to have Liz on the Board of Directors and warmly welcome her.

Jim Moffett joined French & Pickering full time in May. A dedicated volunteer for over a decade, Jim is now employed as Preserve Manager at French & Pickering, realizing a dream to work on behalf of land conservation.

Jim’s immersion in everything ecological culminated in his certification as a Master Naturalist and completion of the Be a Force of Nature® training program with Natural Lands. If you’ve been active with French & Pickering, you will know Jim as a frequent guide for our education programs and for his stunning wildlife photography—another talent born out of his passion for nature.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Jim about taking the role of Preserve Manager. “I’ve always wanted to work for an organization that protected land.” After seeing land surrounding his own home consumed by developers, threatening the well-being of habitat and humans, Jim understands the critical benefit of his new role to the ecological health of the local community.

Jim will be overseeing the maintenance and improvement of our Thomas P. Bentley and Templin Woods Nature Preserves, as well as other land. Jim and his team have already made impressive progress—controlling invasive plants, planting over 800 trees and improving trails for the public to enjoy. Jim will also be spearheading the design and construction of the display structure for the Revolutionary War-era cannons recently discovered at TPBNP.

Head on over to see our new calendar of events, preserve photo galleries, the latest news, a digital version of Land Matters magazine and more!

French & Pickering’s Website Has a New Look!

Welcoming Longtime Volunteer Jim Moffett to the Staff!

IN APPRECIATION Thank you, Penny Hunt

Penny Hunt recently finished her tenure as President of the Board of Directors of French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust. Penny had

the unprecedented terrain of leading the organization through a

Though COVID held the

back, it was no match for Penny! Despite

Penny used creative problem solving

keep

to

even when we could not leave the house.

dedication went above and beyond

well

inspiration

Pickering,

the

of

variety of nature programming via

President when she also took the helm of our Program Committee. Penny was

and the general public—inspiring

Chester County. Over 1,000

Volunteer Spotlight: Sewa

partner with French & Pickering when Board Member Donna Brennan reached out. “There are a lot of volunteers who care about the community and are very happy to help in preserving nature for the future,” Mayura continued. “We had great fun planting the trees (at the TreeVitalize event) in 2021. Many of the Sewa volunteers said that the guidance and education they received while planting the trees was an ‘amazing experience.’ Nothing feels better than the satisfaction of preserving nature for the future.”

Sewa volunteers also helped at the French Creek Iron Tour this year.

Sewa is a Sanskrit word meaning selfless service. Sewa International is a volunteer service organization specializing in disaster relief and rehabilitation. Mayura Ashtakala, president of the local Pennsylvania/ Delaware chapter of Sewa International explained, “In addition, our development programs focus on family services; child, tribal and refugee welfare; empowerment of women; health; and education. In addition to our work in the US, we have undertaken development projects in various countries. Our recent disaster relief works include COVID response aid, international student evacuation in Ukraine, floods in Brazil, and relief work in Sri Lanka, to name a few. Charity assessment organizations like Guidestar and Charity Navigator give top ratings to Sewa International. It has been ranked in the top 10 for 2021 donor-supported causes in Benevity.”

The local Pennsylvania/Delaware chapter of Sewa takes every opportunity to serve the community, including volunteering for food banks, food shelters, park and highway cleanups, planting trees, helping senior citizens, and volunteering for local non-profit

organizations. Sewa also conducts a youth leadership development program for high school students to prepare community service leaders for tomorrow. “We have strong support from very enthusiastic youth and adult volunteers in this area,” Raju Kunaparaju, the local chapter coordinator said. “We were one of the primary volunteer organizations supporting FEMA’s COVID vaccination drive in Philadelphia.”

Mayura, Raju and the local Sewa chapter volunteers were very excited to

“We were very thankful and excited to volunteer at the Iron Tour this year,” Raju said. “It was such a great event, and the youth volunteers had a lot of fun. They thoroughly enjoyed cheering at the finish line, serving food and helping out. It was a very well-organized event, and we look forward to participating in the future.” Raju added, “What is great about The Iron Tour is that our youth volunteers appreciated the efforts by the community leaders.”

Mayura and Raju noted that Sewa International volunteers are looking forward to more collaboration with French & Pickering in the future. And we look forward to working with Sewa!

Partner Profile: Hopewell Big Woods

Hopewell Big Woods is the largest remaining contiguous forest in southeastern Pennsylvania. Within one half hour of Phoenixville, this 73,000-acre woodland in the Pennsylvania Highlands is the perfect destination for recreational and cultural experiences. Here, explorers will find nationally significant hiking and biking trails, historic sites, pristine streams and hundreds of plant and bird species. This beautiful landscape includes the extraordinary French Creek State Park, Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, the Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve and portions of the Schuylkill River Trail.

Led by French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, some 30 government agencies, private non-profits

and municipal entities comprise The Hopewell Big Woods Partnership. With a goal of preserving at least 15,000 acres of unbroken forest, the Partnership works to protect and preserve the landscape while enhancing its enjoyment for this and future generations.

French & Pickering was recently awarded a $6,000 Schuylkill Highlands Mini-Grant to update both the Hopewell Big Woods Land Protection Plan and French & Pickering’s Landscape Conservation Plan. Funded by PA DCNR and administered by Natural Lands, the updates identify priority lands for protection. The remaining half of the total cost of this $12,000 project is being provided by additional French & Pickering grant funds.

Based on numerous conservation factors, including the William Penn Foundation’s Delaware River Watershed Initiative goals, these land preservation plans will be used to assist Township advisory committees and Supervisors in targeting lands to be conserved. Consultants Ginny Kreitler and John Cassels have been engaged to create the updated plans.

While willing landowners and municipal support are the most important factors for what ultimately gets preserved, our targeting and prioritization of key parcels will increasingly be informed by climate factors—both in terms of carbon stored on a site in forest and soils, as well as the ability of a site to help mitigate flooding through infiltration and floodplain function.

French Creek Iron Tour

This year marked the 20th anniversary of the French Creek Iron Tour! Excitement was palpable from the moment we released the special commemorative jersey featuring an original watercolor painting by local artist Deb Kuhn.

To mark this special 20-year milestone, more routes than ever were offered to ensure that any rider interested could find a way to participate in one of our two major fundraisers of the year. For the first time, Conservation Director Pam Brown planned a 7.5-mile conservation ride on which participants stopped at private properties protected by French & Pickering. There they learned about the importance of conservation easements and were introduced to the landowners who have preserved their properties forever.

More than 900 riders registered for the Iron Tour this year, which was forecasted to have great weather. However, in the age of a global pandemic, could things really go smoothly?

As riders awoke on June 12, the skies met their hopeful gazes with darkness and rain. Roughly half hung up their jerseys for another day. For the intrepid riders who reported to the starting line, the skies did clear, and the

day turned out as bright as their spirits. Many riders said it was actually their favorite Iron Tour ever!

Was it because of the pride they felt while coasting through hundreds of miles of beautiful scenery dotted with Preserved Forever signs? Or was it the ice-cold complimentary beer offered by Root Down Brewing Company at the finish line, in our first-ever biergarten?

Regardless of any individual’s reason, the event was a success, due in most part to the unwavering support of our sponsors, volunteers and riders. We thank you all for your understanding, flexibility and for braving the elements. A special, heartfelt thank you goes to Chris Wright and Ann Dyer for their tireless help in coordinating this year’s Iron Tour.

We are very grateful to those who made additional donations to our Stand For The Land capital campaign and the Of Course I Will mini fundraiser, which raised $5,855 to offset the unanticipated inflation of food costs.

As always, 100 percent of the proceeds from the French Creek Iron Tour go toward French & Pickering’s mission to preserve, steward and connect people to the land in northern Chester County. In our ever-changing world, it is comforting to know that, as a community, we will weather whatever comes our way together.

Root Down Brewing

being

Join us online for French & Pickering’s 40th Annual Auction November 1-6, 2022

October

November 6

12

Stand for the Land:It’s More Important Than Ever

The 2021 Auction was again held online. Thank you to all who supported and participated to make the auction a successful event. A wide array of fun and unusual experiences were donated: from cheesemaking to kayaking, and carriage rides to cocktails with donkeys— just to name a few! We had a wonderful group of sponsors. There were several bidding wars and many items sold over listing price.

Due to the current rise of COVID-19 cases, we will be hosting the 2022 Auction online. However, look for an outdoor Auction party in the spring—quite possibly with some live Auction items!

Many local and fun experiences will be available for bidding in this year’s virtual auction, as well as unusual and beautiful items and great vacation homes. Heartfelt thank yous to Deb Kuhn, who created another original watercolor illustration, as she has for the past 21 years, and to all our sponsors and supporters who make the Annual Auction a big success. We can’t do it without you! To see the gallery of the paintings that Deb has graciously donated through the years, please visit frenchandpickering.org/deb-kuhn/.

We look forward to online bidding wars with you during the40th Annual Auction!

WINNER OF THE 2021 COCKTAILS WITH DONKEYS

“We gathered family and friends in Donna and Jim’s idyllic barnyard. We enjoyed delicious food and drink and the kids fed carrots to friendly donkeys Eeyore and Flame. It was a wonderful, whimsical afternoon!” Susan Berry-Gorelli

VISIT one.bidpal.net/auction4conservation

Preview items and bookmark the page now to be ready to bid!

WINNER OF THE 2021 GRAVLAX CLASS “The gravlax class and vodka tasting with Gwen was so much fun. The salmon and other foods prepared by Blake were delicious. The experience made for a fabulous girls night.” Kara Dougherty

LAVENDER DINNER

WOODTURNING

CHEESE MAKING

© 2022 Fiduciary Trust Company International, headquartered in New York, (and subsidiaries doing business as Fiduciary Trust International) and FTCI (Cayman) Ltd. are part of the Franklin Templeton family of companies. All rights reserved.