Brandywine Battlefield Landmark set to expand
BIRMINGHAM » American Revolutionary history runs deep in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Efforts are underway by the Brandywine Conservancy, a program of Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art, to enhance the greater Philadelphia region by adding Birmingham Hill Preserve, 113 of preserved open space, to the Brandywine Battlefield National Historical Landmark.
“The official opening date of the entire Preserve for the public is expected to be announced later this year,” said Sheila Fleming, municipal assistance program manager.
Last July, the Brandywine Conservancy launched a master planning project to protect, conserve and enhance Birmingham Hill Preserve, which is in Chester County near the Delaware County border.
Fleming said staff with expertise in landscape architecture, planning, historic preservation, land conservation, land stewardship, and Geographic Information Systems led the effort. Also, a community advisory committee provided expertise from many local non-profit organizations, government agencies and local historians.
Presently, the front Cemetery Field of Birmingham Hill Preserve is open to hikers, and the perimeter trails along Birmingham Road and Meetinghouse Road. Yet much more is still ahead and under review.
The Dockstader Foundation and many individuals and government agencies provided funds to help the Brandywine Conservancy purchase the Birmingham Hill property, Fleming said.
The Brandywine Conservancy held a virtual town hall on Birmingham Hill Preserve in May. Presented in partnership with Birmingham Township and Brandywine Battlefield Park, the Brandywine Conservancy shared an overview of the vision and ideas for the historic Birmingham Hill Preserve, seeking feedback from the community.
A second town hall is slated for September.
“Once the plan is finalized, the benefit will be 113 acres of preserved open space in the heart of the Brandywine Battlefield National Historical Landmark,” said Fleming. She said management shall protect historic resources and enrich regional history and culture.
Revolutionary preservation
“The Master Plan will guide all of our future work. It represents a vision for the Birmingham Hill Preserve and its use and protection,” said David Shields, associate director of the Brandywine Conservancy. Shields called the plan a “first step” toward opening the Birmingham Hill Preserve to public access.
This will be the first public space of the Brandywine Conservancy.
“While there certainly will be challenges in managing the Preserve as a publicly accessible property — and we will be learning somewhat as we go — it will be worth the effort,” said Shields.
“We are very excited to be able to offer this new Preserve as a public space,” said Ellen Ferretti, director of the Brandywine Conservancy. “Given the history of the site and the area, this Preserve will not only be a magnificent contribution to the community and region as a place to enjoy natural beauty, but will also provide an opportunity to reflect on the cultural and historic significance of the site, what that means to the region and the nation, and to honor lives lost on that very soil.”
Upon completion, the Birmingham Hill Preserve shall add another 113 acres and 1.8 miles of public trails for quintessential recreational adventures surrounded by nature.
“The Preserve will be another place where people can visit hallowed ground and learn about our nation’s history; where they can better understand what happens at this site.”
The Birmingham Hill Preserve will also be home to communitydriven education initiatives, she said.
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.
“Throughout the region,” Ferretti said, “there has been a significant increase in the use of trails and visitation of natural areas on the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art’s campus and the Conservancy’s member preserves as people seek refuge in nature.”
The Brandywine Conservancy, which takes a multi-faceted approach to conservation, is in Chadds Ford Township, across Route 1 for miles are remnants of the American Revolutionary War, from graveyards to homes.
There’s also a museum on the grounds, spanning Delaware and Chester counties, with artwork spanning narrative sculptures to literary oil paintings. Typical events feature historic, cultural, social and community-inspired exhibitions.
The Brandywine River runs through the property and the museum is home to the Wyeth family collection of art encompasses the landscapes and trends in American society for generations.
“Quarantine has taught us that preserved land and outdoor recreation is even more highly valued than we thought,” she said. “It’s taught us that these resources and the efforts to not only preserve and steward what we have, but seek future opportunities to conserve land and expand outdoor recreation, is paramount to the wellbeing of our community.”