Natural Lands Preserves 44-Acre Nantmeal Twp Farm, Adds 3 Acres to Sadsbury Woods Preserve

Aguilar Farm, East Nantmeal Township Preserved in Perpetuity

Natural Lands announced the permanent preservation of the 44-acre Aguilar farm in East Nantmeal Township, Chester County. 

Said Natural Lands Senior Director of Land Protection Jack Stefferud, “The property is really special because of the water there. Beaver Run and one of its tributaries cut through the northern portion of the land. The area around the creek banks is a floodplain, which absorbs and slows stormwater during major rainstorms.” 

The entire Beaver Run basin is designated as having Exceptional Value water quality by the PA Department of Environmental Protection. Water from Beaver Run makes its way to French Creek, which joins the Schuylkill River just upstream of Norristown. These waterways are important sources of drinking water and recreation for the Delaware Valley, making their protection essential to our region. 

There is also a small wetland area on the property. Much like coral reefs and rainforests, wetlands teem with diverse plants, insects, and wildlife.  

East Nantmeal Township plans to place a public trail easement on a portion of the property along Horseshoe Trail Road. The farm is within the Nantmeal Village Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and connects already conserved land to the south with the Village of Nantmeal.  

Funding for the project was underwritten by East Nantmeal Township and the Conservancy Grant Program, Commissioners of Chester County, Pennsylvania. 

Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline said, “Preserving a property like this one checks all the right boxes in Chester County’s efforts to invest wisely in open space. The Aguilar property has historical value, the Beaver Run Creek runs through it, its woodlands extend the amazing high-quality woodlands already preserved there, and it is all located within the fast-developing Route 100 corridor. We are pleased to partner with Natural Lands and East Nantmeal Township on preserving this irreplaceable natural and historical site.” 

“My wife and I want our kids and grandkids to appreciate nature’s healing qualities,” said landowner Martin Aguilar. “We all need to do more to preserve land. Once it’s gone, it’s too late. 

 

Sadsbury Woods Preserve Adds 3 Acres

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. 

“Just before we purchased this three-acre property, the owners cleared it of all trees and shrubs in 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.” 

 

 

Natural Lands is dedicated to preserving and nurturing nature’s wonders while creating opportunities for joy and discovery in the outdoors for everyone.  As the Greater Philadelphia region’s oldest and largest land conservation organization, Natural Lands—which is member supported—has preserved more than 125,000 acres, including 42 nature preserves and one public garden totaling more than 23,000 acres. Nearly five million people live within five miles of land under the organization’s protection. Land for life, nature for all. natlands.org.