CAMP HILL PA – Pennsylvania’s William Penn Forest District – which includes 10 different tracks of land across portions of Berks, Chester, Delaware, and Bucks counties – will be recognized during a May 14 awards program as the state “Forest of the Year.”
Locally the district encompasses the Gibraltar Hill Tract, northwest of Birdsboro; the George Wertz Tract, south of Robesonia; the Buck Hollow and Hopewell tracts, near Elverson; the Ruth Zimmerman Natural Area, west of Oley; and the Honey Brook Tract, south of Honey Brook.
Most recently, in October 2023, the state also provided a $884,700 grant to enable Natural Lands to buy and preserve 679 acres along Upper Ridge Road in Salford and Marlborough townships that will become part of the district as well. The district is named for Pennsylvania founder William Penn.
Other parcels within the district are the “ecologically significant” Goat Hill Public Wild Plant Sanctuary, southwest of Nottingham; the David R. Johnson Natural Area, north of New Hope; “the tidally influenced” Little Tinnicum Island Natural Area, in the Delaware River south of Philadelphia; and the Cornwall Tract near Cornwall; as well as several undeveloped forested parcels.
All are open to and usable by the public. Features at each tract differ, but collectively the district offers hiking, camping, picnicking, hunting and trapping, fishing, a wild plant sanctuary, and a view of one of the state’s few tidal mud flats.
About the foundation awards
The district’s management of the “diverse array of tracts,” and the variety of uses available on the properties themselves, earned the award that will be presented at an annual farm-to-table banquet held by the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation at Little Buffalo State Park in Newport. Award winners were announced March 8 (Friday) in a media release.
The foundation also will acknowledge “individuals and programs that have demonstrated outstanding dedication to stewardship across 10 different categories,” the foundation said.
2014 photo provided by Brendinooo
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