Taking advantage of the county’s new policy allowing limited volunteer work, staff members from the Chester County Planning Commission recently spent their afternoon helping to remove invasive species at the Rushton Woods Preserve in Willistown Township!

The Rushton Woods Preserve is managed and owned by Willistown Conservation Trust, whose programs and services include: Land Protection; Bird Conservation; Habitat Restoration; Community Farm; Watershed Protection; and Education and Community Outreach.

Willistown Conservation Trust’s Director of Stewardship, Andrew Kirkpatrick, provided the volunteer group with an overview of the organization’s services and projects, and explained the group’s task for the day: removing the invasive multiflora rose along some of the preserve’s wooded trails. He explained that although multiflora rose was originally introduced in PA on purpose to help with erosion control, by the time its invasive tendencies became known it was already too late. The Preserve’s Manager, Mike Cranney, also joined the group for the afternoon.

Rushton Woods Preserve totals 86 aces and includes the Rushton Conservation Center and the Rushton Farm. It’s one of Willistown Conservation Trust’s three nature preserves in the Willistown area, and remains open to the public 365 days per year providing natural places that offer peace and respite for all. Additionally, the Rushton Woods Preserve hosts events such as BYO-picnics and live music, sunset yoga, farm-to-table dinners, and other outdoor gatherings.

To learn more about the Rushton Woods Preserve and the Willistown Conservation Trust, including upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and more, visit https://wctrust.org/rushtonwoodspreserve/.