THE BIG 500
Brandywine Reaches Exciting Conservation Milestone
As 2022 came to a close, the Brandy-
wine Conservancy celebrated a milestone achievement as it reached more than 500 total conservation easements held by the organization, while also exceeding 70,000 acres of land that have been permanently preserved through both direct and facilitated easements since the organization’s founding. That’s almost 110 square miles of land—nearly the size of Arches National Park—protected from development and other uses that could otherwise degrade natural, water, cultural and scenic resources. Bringing the Conservancy over the line to 500 easements last year was a 51acre property, known locally as “Camp Linden,” in West Bradford Township, Chester County, PA. This easement was granted by the Philadelphia Ethical Society (PES), a nonprofit that has owned the property for almost 100 years. During that time, the site has been used as a seasonal camp for Philadelphia children living in underserved communities—a tradition that will continue with this easement, which permits the existing camp uses while also protecting the property’s noted conservation values. The preservation of Camp Linden is emblematic of both the continuity of the Conservancy’s 55-plus years’ mission and the ways in which easements have changed over time.
Then & Now: A Look at How We Got Here In one way, Camp Linden is like all of the Conservancy’s other easements: it’s unique. Every tract of land has distinctive qualities, and every landowner has a vision for its future. Back in 1969, the Brandywine’s co-founder George A. “Frolic” Weymouth and his wife, Anna B. McCoy, donated a conservation easement on their property—the organization’s first—totaling 50 acres along the “Big Bend” of the
Brandywine Creek. It was followed that year by three more donated easements, which created a four-mile corridor of protected creekside land. At the time, this region was at the heart of exciting new planning ideas to save open space. By putting those ideas into practice, the Brandywine’s founders began a tradition of conservation innovation and leadership that continues to this day as staff creatively address challenges of climate resilience and protecting biodiversity.
Marshallton
Camp Linden
Brandywine Creek
Brandywine Conservancy eased and owned lands Other protected lands
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