Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
CONSERVATIONIST HONORED
David Shields helped preserve tens of thousands of acres of land in Chester County
KENNETT TOWNSHIP » The man responsible for helping to permanently preserve nearly 5,000 acres of the King Ranch property in Chester County was honored for his efforts by the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance.
David Shields, retired associate director at the Brandywine Conservancy, earned the coveted Clayton M. Hoff award at the annual meeting of the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance with more than 100 in attendance.
“During his career, his tireless efforts and leadership helped preserve approximately 60,000 acres of pristine land, most of it in the Brandywine Valley,” said Jim Jordan, CEO of the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance.
In the early 1980s, the 5,367acre King Ranch off Route 82, at
the time owned by Buck & Doe Run Valley Farms, was at risk of being developed. Shields’ tireless work prevented that from happening.
Shields’ efforts led to many acres of prime Chester County land placed in permanent conservation. When he started as a full-time worker at the Brandywine Conservancy, the organization had owned 375 acres of land and had placed 3,755 acres
in protection. Today, the Conservancy owns 2,870 acres and has nearly 38,000 acres in protection.
“One of David’s efforts spanned decades and linked to the preservation in perpetuity of the hallowed grounds of Birmingham Hill,” Jordan said.
A few years ago, the Brandywine Conservancy purchased a 13-acre tract of land on the Brandywine Hill, a key part of
the historic Brandywine Battlefield.
One of Shields’ major career accomplishments was assisting with the preservation of thousands of acres of protected battle lands from the American Revolutionary War, due to his extensive knowledge of the Battle of the Brandywine.
Before he retired, Shields was responsible for securing funding for the multi-million-dollar, multi-state Delaware River Watershed Initiative as well as several National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grants for work within the watershed.
“David has set the bar high in the conservation arena,” Jordan said.
Said Shields, author of the book “Catalyst for Conservation,”: “It’s an honor to receive this award.”
Last year, the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance was responsible for cleaning 31 miles of streams, planting 1,338 trees and shrubs, donated 1,300 pounds of produce for food cupboards, and restored more than
4,100 feet of streams.
And recently, 275 volunteers picked up trash over 90 miles of streams and roadways amounting to 5.5 tons of trash removed from nature.
Founded in 1967, the Brandywine Conservancy has facilitated the preservation of more than 66,000 land acres. Locally and regionally, the Brandywine Conservancy protects water, conserves land, and engages communities. The conservancy holds nearly 500 conservation and agricultural easements.
“BRC does make a significant difference in the Red Clay and Brandywine watersheds,” Jordan said. “We do it one tree, one person, one child at a time. This year has really been phenomenal.”