Brandywine Conservancy's Environmental Management Center
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News
Brandywine Conservancy Partners with East and West Brandywine Townships
for Conservation Easements
Easements save valuable cultural and natural resources in Chester County
Chadds Ford, PA March 6, 2009-The Brandywine Conservancy recently acquired two conservation easements encompassing 40 acres in Chester County through a joint project undertaken with East and West Brandywine Townships, both of which recently enacted open space preservation referenda. These conservation easements were purchased for less than their full value, demonstrating the landowners' strong conservation ethic and commitment to preserving land and water resources.
One easement is on 21 acres of Eliel and Priscilla Thornbury's property, located on Hadfield Road and purchased by the two townships. The easement is jointly held by them and the Brandywine Conservancy. Known as Hidden Valley Farm, the property contains a variety of valuable cultural and natural resources, including four historic buildings, headwater tributaries of Beaver Creek (a tributary to the East Branch of the Brandywine) and mature woodlands. Hadfield Road, a township-designated scenic road, provides sweeping views of the property's pastures framed by woodlands and including a beautiful, historic stone bank barn.
The other easement is on the 19-acre property of Lex and Phoebe Robb located directly east of the Thornburys' property. It also features mature woodlands and additional headwaters of Beaver Creek. A conservation easement on the Robb property was purchased by East Brandywine Township and is jointly held with the Brandywine Conservancy.
The Conservancy drafted easements for trails on both properties. When the trails are constructed, they will allow public access for walking, cross-country skiing and other activities. These conservation and trail easements bring the townships closer to creating a Hadfield Road greenway.
"This project is a terrific example of how municipalities can work together to achieve the common goal of preserving open space forever," said Sherri Evans-Stanton, director of the Brandywine Conservancy's Environmental Management Center.
"The residents of East Brandywine Township passed the referendum that made these easements possible. They will benefit by seeing the rural character of Hadfield Road preserved and enjoying the trails," said Scott Piersol, East Brandywine Township Manager. "We are grateful to the Thornburys and the Robbs for preserving their lands for present and future generations to enjoy."
The Brandywine Conservancy (www.brandywineconservancy.org) was founded in 1967. Currently, it holds more than 400 conservation easements and has protected over 43,000 acres in Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania, as well as New Castle County in Delaware. The Environmental Management Center provides conservation services to landowners, farmers, municipalities and developers. The staff of professional planners and natural resource managers offers technical assistance and expertise for conservation and comprehensive land use planning. Conservation easements, assistance to local governments and water protection efforts are the key elements of these programs.
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