On June 28, Natural Lands announced it has added three acres of land to its Sadsbury Woods Preserve in Sadsbury Township, Chester County.

Many of Natural Lands 43 properties have grown to their present sizes through small additions like this one over many years.

The property, once an in-holding on the western boundary of the nature preserve, will be reforested to provide additional habitat for wildlife, particularly migratory songbirds.

Sadsbury Woods Preserve began in 1996 when Natural Lands purchased 177 acres of forested land along the Route 30 corridor, situated squarely in the path of expanding development around Exton.

An additional 20+ parcels acquired in succeeding years expanded the preserve to its present size of 511 acres.

Like all of Natural Lands’ properties, it is open to the public free of charge, year-round.

The forested land of Sadsbury Woods provides critical habitat for songbirds like Scarlet Tanager, Wood Thrush, and several species of warblers that spend winters in warmer climes but use large, connected forests in our region as their breeding grounds.

Many of these migrant species have declined because the woods they rely on are disappearing or being subdivided.

Forests that are fragmented into smaller plots by roads and developments favor predators that thrive along the edge of the woods, such as raccoons, snakes, Blue Jays, domestic cats, and Brown-headed Cowbirds.

Located at the headwaters of Buck Run, a major tributary to Brandywine Creek, the preserve also helps to keep the stream clean and clear.

Sadsbury has also been a part of popular culture recently as it made an appearance on the HBO series, The Last of Us.

“Just before we purchased this three-acre property, the owners cleared it of all trees and shrubs to build a house there,” said Sadsbury Woods Preserve Manager Erin Smith. “We will work to reforest the land so that it can provide better ecological services like storing carbon to help cool the climate, absorb rainwater to ease flooding, clean and filter drinking water, and give wildlife food and shelter.”

Since its beginning, Chester County Government has partnered with Natural Lands to create and subsequently expand Sadsbury Woods Preserve, including support for its trail network and the addition of a parking lot.

Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline said, “The preservation of any amount of land is meaningful, but what makes this three-acre parcel especially significant is that it becomes part of the larger Sadsbury Woods Preserve, and it encourages ecological benefits that come from replenishing the interior forest, including a critical habitat that attracts many species of birds.”

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Natural Lands has preserved more than 125,000 acres, including 42 nature preserves and one public garden totaling more than 23,000 acres.

NewsClips This Week:

-- Delaware Currents: Sojourning On The Schuylkill River - Celebrating The River And How Much Outdoor Recreation Contributes To PA’s Economy

-- NextPittsburgh: Rail Trail Expansion Builds Dreams That Freeport And Kittanning Could Rival Great Allegheny Passage Trail Destinations

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: 555-Acre Former Hunting Camp Preserved In The Poconos By The Conservation Fund, Added To Delaware State Forest

-- Centre Daily Times: Views Of Broad Mountain On Guided Hike In PA’s Rothrock State Forest

-- Warren Times: Allegheny 100 Challenge Draws Hikers From Across The Country

-- Williamsport Sun: Endless Mountains 5-Day Adventure Hike/Bike Race Gets Underway

-- TribLive: Get Your Tail On The Trails Of Washington County This Summer

-- Penn State Extension Woods & Wildlife News: Eastern Hemlock Health Update; Restoring PA’s Game Birds; Fire In The Woods; More!

-- Reading Eagle: Harmful Algal Bloom Advisory Issued At Blue Marsh Recreation Area

-- WESA: Climate Change In PA Is Increasing Risk Of Lyme Disease, Other Tick-Borne Illnesses

-- Courier Times: Tick-Borne Illnesses, Including Lyme Disease, On Rise In PA

-- Williamsport Sun: Region Faces Third Spongy [Gypsy] Moth Outbreak

-- The Allegheny Front: Preparing For The Arrival Of The Invasive Spongy [Gypsy] Moth

Related Articles This Week:

-- The Conservation Fund: PA's Delaware State Forest Grows By 555 Acres In Pike County  [PaEN]

-- Natural Lands Finalizes Crebilly Farm Conservation Easements Protecting 102 Acres In Chester County  [PaEN]

-- Natural Lands Adding Acres To Sadsbury Woods Preserve In Chester County [PaEN]

-- Willistown Conservation Trust & Natural Lands Receive $25,000 Grant From Cornell Lab Of Ornithology To Reverse The Decline Of Grassland Birds In Chester County  [PaEN]

-- June 30 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation  [PaEN]

-- June 23 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation  [PaEN]

-- July PA Township News Packed With Articles On Parks, Trails, Recreation, Grid-Scale Solar Facilities, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, More  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension: Meadow Repository - Resources For Planning, Planting Meadows  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Sept. 26 Webinar: How Community Forests Provide Critical Environmental & Societal Services, Buffer Local Heat And Moisture Swings  [PaEN]

-- Dept. Of Health Accepting Applications For WalkWorks Grants Thru July 28

[Posted: June 28, 2023]

7/3/2023