Massive Reforestation Effort at Peacedale Preserve
July 2025
Natural Lands announced a massive tree-planting effort was completed recently at the organization's Peacedale Preserve in Landenberg, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The conservation non-profit planted 11,020 native species along waterways and across 36 acres of former fields. Over time, the seedlings will mature into a diverse forest, offering habitat for wildlife and improvingwater 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.
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.
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 Chester County's Conservancy Grant Program; the E. Kneale Dockstader Foundation; and donors to Natural Lands' preserve restoration fund.
Natural Lands plans additional large-scale reforestation projects at several other nature preserves under their care in Chester County, including Sadsbury Woods Preserve and Stroud Preserve.
View the before and after drone video, Planting a Forest: Peacedale Preserve Tree Planting Before & After.