Nestled among rolling hills and picturesque conserved lands, just 20 miles west of Philadelphia and off Route 3, sits a small environmental nonprofit known as Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT). This organization has been in existence since 1996, but its history extends well beyond those years to the 1980s.
During this time 40 years ago, unchecked development began making its way into the Newtown Square area. As concerns over destroyed habitat grew, a small group of neighbors gathered together and formed a satellite branch of the Brandywine Conservancy, led by Bonnie Van Alen. Bonnie and her neighbors quickly got to work and began combatting potential development with a unique tool called a conservation easement.
A conservation easement allows landowners to permanently protect their land forever in exchange for certain rights that are given up, such as restricting future development on the property. With this tool, Bonnie and her partners, Alice Hausmann and Kathe McCoy, approached their neighbors, many of whom agreed to protect their lands permanently. After years of success, the group formed their own independent nonprofit and named it Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT), officially establishing their focus area within the headwaters of the Crum, Ridley, and Darby Creeks — about 28,000 acres — which is where the group continues to focus today.
Throughout the years, Willistown Conservation Trust has helped to permanently conserve over 7,500 acres within Chester and Delaware Counties, also known as the ancestral lands of the Lenni Lenape. Of those protected lands, you’ll find WCT’s public nature preserves: Ashbridge Preserve, Kirkwood Preserve, and Rushton Woods Preserve, which is home to the Rushton Conservation Center and Rushton Farm. These preserves are open year-round, offering walking trails and tranquil sightseeing opportunities for all.
Today, Kate Etherington serves as Executive Director & President, and the nonprofit of 30 staff members continues to conserve land and care for habitat locally. They have since expanded their conservation efforts to include bird conservation and watershed protection, programs that study the effects of land conservation on our water sources and migratory bird species. Their robust conservation efforts also led them to create Rushton Farm, which provides sustainably grown produce for over 100 families, and the West Chester Food Cupboard.
Willistown Conservation Trust puts on a variety of educational, culinary-inspired, and just plain fun events throughout the year. Think Bird Walks for all skill levels, Watershed Volunteer Days that consist of tree plantings, Preserve Hikes led by Stewardship professionals, an evening of botanical cocktails among the wildflowers, a Field-to-Feast meal prepared by Malvern Buttery, Bug Nights for children and families, mindful yoga retreats, food truck picnics at their Community Supper Series and more!
One of their biggest events of the year is Barns & BBQ, which takes place on June 3rd and allows attendees to tour stunning, privately-owned barns and conserved lands throughout the Willistown and Newtown-Edgmont area. Visitors can choose between two ticket options — one that is a tour-only ticket and another that includes a BBQ celebration that evening, complete with all sorts of auction items, delectable cocktails and a delicious supper.
This event is one of WCT’s biggest fundraisers of the year, and all proceeds go toward the continual effort to protect this special area we all call home.
Willistown Conservation Trust is located at 925 Providence Rd, Newtown Square. To learn more about WCT, visit www.WCTrust.org. For information about Willistown Conservation Trust’s events and to grab a ticket to Barns & BBQ, head to www.WCTrust.org/calendar.