The conservation non-profit planted 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.
“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. About 2,700 plant and animal species live in the Chesapeake Bay Estuary. And fishermen harvest around 500 million pounds of seafood from the Bay every year.”
He added, “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.”
In 1973, the estate of Charles Foote donated his farm to Natural Lands. 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—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.
When Europeans first explored Pennsylvania, trees covered 90 percent of the territory.
Though the Native Americans who had lived in the region for thousands of years did clear some land for hunting and agriculture, famed naturalist John Bartram still found forests so thick it was “as if the sun had never shown on the ground since the creation."
But by 1850, millions of acres had been cleared for farming, timber, and firewood.
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.
The seedlings are 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.
Funding for this project was provided by the E. Kneale Dockstader Foundation; the Conservancy Grant Program, Commissioners of Chester County, Pennsylvania; and donors to Natural Lands’ preserve restoration fund.
Natural Lands plans additional large-scale reforestation projects at several other nature preserves under their care, including Diabase Farm Preserve (New Hope, PA), Sadsbury Woods Preserve (Parkesburg, PA), and Stroud Preserve (West Chester, PA).
By the close of 2025, the organization will have planted 22,540 trees and shrubs on 75.5 acres in just one year.
Before and after drone video here: Planting a Forest: Peacedale Preserve Tree Planting Before & After
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 136,600 acres, including 40+ nature preserves and one public garden totaling more than 23,600 acres.
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[Posted: June 21, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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