By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer

The continuing imprint of one of the area’s most prestigious centers of land preservation was recently graced again by the magic wand of its latest efforts. 

Natural Lands - the Greater Philadelphia region’s oldest and largest land conservation organization – recently completed a massive tree-planting effort at the organization’s Peacedale Preserve in Landenberg. The project saw the planting of 11,020 native species along waterways and across 36 acres of former fields. Over time, the seedlings will mature to a diverse forest, offering habitat for wildlife and improve water quality. 

The seedlings consist of a variety of native species, including red maple, silver maple, hornbeam, redbud, tuliptree, blackgum, sycamore, white oak, swamp white oak, pin oak, chestnut oak, elderberry and flowering dogwood. Planted at a density of 303 trees per acre, the seedlings are protected from deer by five-foot-tall tree shelters that photodegrade over time. 

The trees and shrubs were planted in 12-foot rows, wide enough to allow preserve stewardship staff to mow between them, reducing competition from other vegetation until the seedlings have matured.

In addition to improving water quality, the planting project at Peacedale Preserve will re-establish forest cover and improve wildlife habitat. In particular, woodlands are essential for migratory songbirds—such as Scarlet Tanager and Wood Thrush—that rely on the dense forest for food and protection from the weather and predators.

Planting has impact on water quality

“It’s really quite remarkable how much of a positive impact planting trees along streams has on water quality,” said Gary Gimbert, vice president of stewardship for Natural Lands. “The creeks that travel through Peacedale Preserve flow to Big Elk Creek, onward to Elk River, and empty into Chesapeake Bay, whose estuary contains about 2,700 plant and animal species live, and where area fishermen harvest around 500 million pounds of seafood.

“We are committed to creating and maintaining a minimum 100-foot buffer along all waterways that run through our nature preserves. As they mature, the native trees we’ve planted at Peacedale will help filter out sediment and other pollutants, reduce erosion, and slow stormwater to prevent flooding.”

Funding for this project was provided by the E. Kneale Dockstader Foundation, the Conservancy Grant Program, the Chester County Commissioners and donors to Natural Lands’ preserve restoration fund.

In 1973, the estate of Charles Foote donated his Landenberg farm to Natural Lands, but due to limited access and funding, it was an isolated parcel with no trails. In 2009, Natural Lands purchased an adjoining 133-acres from a developer that had received approval for subdivision but due to the economic downturn, the developer decided to sell the land instead. Later that same year, and again in 2011, the organization acquired additional neighboring properties, bringing the preserve to its present size of 222 acres. Today, the agency cares for over 40 nature preserves and one public garden that total more than 23,000 acres and 122 miles of trails and pathways.

In 2025, Natural Lands is projected to plant 22,540 trees and shrubs on 75.5 acres, and is planning additional large-scale reforestation projects at several other Pennsylvania nature preserves under their care, including the Diabase Farm Preserve in New Hope, the Sadsbury Woods Preserve in Parkesburg and the Stroud Preserve in West Chester. 

To learn more about Natural Lands and its projects, visit www.natlands.org.