Director's Report
Dear Fellow Conservationists,
One of my favorite facets of working at the Brandywine Conservancy is that the organization promotes, supports, and inherently has a culture of learning. I experience this through intentional programs and meetings with staff who teach me something new each day, but also each time I read a new edition of Environmental Currents, and this issue is no different.
In this issue, we’re highlighting the many ways our team and partners are working to protect and strengthen the landscapes that define our region. From practical guidance on caring for ponds, to a closer look at Pennsylvania’s ecoregions and the native plants that thrive within them, to addressing the spread of invasive species like bamboo, this issue offers insight and inspiration for those who share our commitment to stewardship.
You’ll also find updates on recent and ongoing projects, including the Mason-Dixon Heritage Interpretation Plan, Pennsbury Township ordinances, and new research into Beech Leaf Disease at Brandywine’s Miller Farm. We’re also celebrating community engagement through events like Bike the Brandywine and our recent trip carriaging through the Laurels, which remind us of the joy and connection that come from experiencing conserved lands firsthand.
Finally, as the fall season brings cooler temperatures that invite us outdoors, I encourage you to explore the Brandywine Creek Greenway—now easier than ever with our updated mobile app—and discover the trails, parks, and open spaces that make our region so special.
In addition to the restorative power of nature, studies continually show that lifelong learning has a multitude of health benefits, so I welcome you to join me in learning from the talented Conservancy staff.
With gratitude and wishes of good health,
— Grant
Grant DeCosta, Director, Brandywine Conservancy
Caring for Our Ponds: A Guide to Pond Ecology & Care
Beautiful and peaceful, ponds grace our neighborhoods, parks, and backyards with a sense of calm and connection to nature. They provide quiet places for reflection, shelter for wildlife, and essential support for healthy ecosystems. In the United States, most ponds are man-made, which means they require extra care and active management to stay in balance. Without thoughtful stewardship, these delicate habitats can quickly become overgrown, polluted, or unsafe. Whether you’re a homeowner with a small backyard pond, part of a homeowners’ association (HOA), or a municipality, there are practical steps you can take to keep your pond healthy, attractive, and safe.
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Understanding Ecoregions and Their Significance in Pennsylvania
On our latest blog on the Brandywine's new Native Garden Hub website, we're highlighting ecoregions—what they are, their significance, and how to find your ecoregion when considering which native plants will thrive best in your landscape.
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Invasive Species Spotlight: Bamboo
Bamboo is a fast-growing, woody grass often marketed as an option for planting privacy screens and windbreaks. While bamboo is beautiful and has many practical uses, it is very challenging to control or remove and should be planted with extreme caution—and certain types should not be planted at all.
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Exploring the Brandywine Creek Greenway with Your Four-Legged Friend
Looking to get outside with your pets this fall? Whether you’re going for your morning walk, a weekend trip out of the city, or just passing through, you can find dog-friendly parks and trails through the recently improved and updated Brandywine Creek Greenway App. Read on for a few of our favorite parks in the area, plus safety tips for making the most of the season with your four-legged friends.
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Project Spotlight: Connecting History, Community, and Recreation Along the Mason-Dixon and Arc Boundaries
After two years of research, community engagement, and strategic planning, the Mason-Dixon/Arc Corner Heritage Interpretation and Connectivity Plan is entering its final review phase. This initiative brings together four neighboring municipalities—London Britain, New Garden, Franklin, and Elk Townships—to celebrate and share their region’s unique history while strengthening connections between heritage, community, and recreation.
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Municipal Assistance Updates
Pennsbury Township Ordinance Amendments
Brandywine Conservancy assisted Pennsbury Township with multiple ordinance amendments intended to strengthen protections for riparian buffers, specimen trees, and timber harvesting practices. The scope also included the development of new ordinance provisions for the dispensing, growing and processing of medical marijuana facilities.
The project, partially funded through a Chester County Planning Commission Vision Partnership Program grant, was led by the Brandywine Conservancy’s Municipal Assistance Program, with assistance from John Snook, formerly Brandywine Conservancy staff. The Brandywine Conservancy’s active involvement in conservation and stewardship with the Township made the organization’s Municipal Assistance Program a suitable choice for completing this vital planning project.
“Riparian” refers to the vegetated land adjacent to a watercourse, pond, lake, or wetland. Forested riparian buffers are an extremely cost-effective way to protect surface water quality. The vegetation slows stormwater, boosts infiltration, and filters out pollutants before they reach streams. Trees also stabilize banks, reduce erosion, and shade the water—keeping it cool and improving aquatic habitats. The Conservancy reviewed the Township’s existing buffer regulations and recommended expanding the riparian Zone 1 beyond 100 feet where steep slopes are present, setting clear planting and restoration guidelines, and clarifying how these rules align with wetland protections to strengthen environmental safeguards.
After an 8-month drafting process, the Pennsbury Township Board of Supervisors formally adopted the ordinances on August 20. Moving forward, Pennsbury Township will educate landowners and developers on these newly amended ordinances that help ensure a greater quality of life for residents and the watershed.
To learn more about Riparian Buffer Ordinances visit our Municipal Resource Toolkits on our website.
The Brandywine Conservancy’s Municipal Resource Toolkits offer practical guidance covering the following key themes: General Planning; Land Preservation; Natural Resource Protection; Historic and Cultural Resource Preservation; Recreation and Transportation Infrastructure; and Climate Resiliency.
Each tool includes an overview, a guide on implementation, its regional applicability, and a list of case studies. Additionally, some toolkits include a technical bulletin that provides more detailed guidance, such as a step-by-step implementation process and supplementary resources for deeper exploration.
Londonderry Township Sustainable Community Assessment
Brandywine Conservancy assisted Londonderry Township with a Sustainable Community Assessment (SCA) to identify existing sustainability-related goals, policies, or regulations, and evaluate whether they present opportunities or obstacles for furthering the Township’s sustainability efforts.
The SCA focused on existing municipal policies and plans but did not address municipal procurement policies or operations. In focusing on existing local government law and planning, the Conservancy believes that future development and planning can be positively impacted to address a municipality’s goals for its future. A municipality may choose to undertake an SCA at the start of its comprehensive plan update or before amending its ordinances to help frame possible inconsistencies between the municipality’s vision versus its existing codes.
Brandywine Conservancy’s Sustainable Community Assessment tool focuses on the following eight major topical areas of sustainability: Natural Resource Protection; Water Quality and Quantity; Land Use and Community Character; Climate Resiliency; Alternative Energy and Energy Conservation; Mobility and Transportation; Community Health and Safety; and Food Protection and Security.
The SCA tool is able to organize these eight diverse subject areas into a single document to help a municipality recognize past municipal actions that may have positively contributed to a more sustainable future. It can also help a municipality or region identify, and prioritize, steps they and their constituents (residents, business owners, others) can take in becoming more sustainable.
After a 5-month process, the Londonderry Township Board of Supervisors voted to accept the Sustainable Community Assessment, which will be added as an Appendix to their upcoming Comprehensive Plan Update.
To learn more about Sustainable Community Assessments (SCAs), visit our Municipal Resource Toolkits on our website.
The Brandywine Conservancy’s Municipal Resource Toolkits offer practical guidance covering the following key themes: General Planning; Land Preservation; Natural Resource Protection; Historic and Cultural Resource Preservation; Recreation and Transportation Infrastructure; and Climate Resiliency.
Each tool includes an overview, a guide on implementation, its regional applicability, and a list of case studies. Additionally, some toolkits include a technical bulletin that provides more detailed guidance, such as a step-by-step implementation process and supplementary resources for deeper exploration.
Beech Leaf Disease Research at Miller Farm
First observed in Ohio in 2012, Beech Leaf Disease (BLD) has since spread swiftly throughout the northeastern United States, reaching as far as Ontario, Canada. Given that BLD is a recently identified disease, the scientific understanding of its development and progression is limited. This summer, Brandywine’s Public Engagement Coordinator, Julia Steiner, joined Dr. Schedlbauer and student Nick Baffa for a morning in the field to learn more about the research efforts aimed at fighting this devastating disease.
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Fifth Pennsylvania Pollinator Photo Challenge Winners
Stunning images of bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and more were submitted to the fifth annual Pennsylvania Pollinator Photo Challenge. Hosted by the Brandywine's Penguin Court Preserve and the Westmoreland Pollinator Partners, this year's contest received 271 entries from 101 participants.
This year’s featured category was native bees to highlight the 400+ native bee species in Pennsylvania. Did you know that honeybees are not native to North America? Instead, think of bumblebees, carpenter bees, leafcutter bees, mason bees, miner bees, and sweat bees!
The images were anonymously evaluated by representatives of the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, and the Westmoreland Photographers Society.
Cash prizes were awarded to first, second, and third place winners, as well as to the person who took the best native bee image. Prizes were funded in part by a grant for the “Native Bees are Key” project supported by the Community Conservation Partnerships Program Environmental Stewardship Fund under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Recreation and Conservation administered through the Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s Laurel Highlands Mini Grant Program.
Honorable mentions were presented to:
- Kieran Cain, Sewickley
- Harold DeLozier, Hollidaysburg x2
- Colleen Hertzog, Indiana
- Robert Kirk, Chadds Ford
- Heather Konhaus, Berlin
- Jessica McFarland, New Derry
- Dan Mendenhall, Glenshaw
- Phyllis Terchanik, Johnstown
- Jennifer Wentz, York
Thomas Kalina of Garnet Valley, PA won first place overall and first place in the native bee category for his photographs of an incredible hummingbird (shown above) and bumblebee, respectively.
Dan Tieri of Downington, PA won second place for his closeup of a bumblebee.
Third place was awarded to D. Suzanne Evans of Elizabeth, PA for her stunning photo of a hummingbird that even had a few grains of pollen on its bill.
A Flickr album with all the entries will be available to view for a few months on the photo challenge’s website.
Thank you to everyone who entered. We’ll do this again next year!
Bike the Brandywine Recap
We couldn’t have asked for better weather for this year’s Bike the Brandywine event on September 20! In all, nearly 500 riders joined us for a gorgeous day biking through the scenic vistas of the Chester County countryside, all in support of the Brandywine Conservancy’s open space and clean water programs, helping us to raise the most money ever since Bike the Brandywine first began seven years ago! Stay tuned for more information on next year's ride at www.BikeTheBrandywine.org.
Carriaging in the Laurels
The Laurels Preserve recently hosted a carriage driving event that featured horse-drawn carriages traveling through its rolling meadows, shaded woodlands, and historic covered bridges. Participants and spectators alike enjoyed a unique way of experiencing the landscape, moving at the pace of the horses while taking in the Preserve’s sweeping views and the peaceful beauty of its conserved open space. The event not only celebrated a traditional form of recreation but also highlighted the importance of land preservation, as participants traveled across privately protected farms and fields that make up the larger Laurels landscape. It was both a community gathering and a reminder of the region’s heritage, blending equestrian tradition with conservation.
Featured Photo: Trespassing Turkeys at Penguin Court Preserve
Looks like the locals set their own rules! This group of trespassing turkeys was recently caught on camera at the Brandywine's Penguin Court Preserve in Westmoreland County, PA.