By Barb Elliot, Ph.D.

If you have worked to create a nature-friendly garden habitat, you may dread the day when you may have to sell your property to a new owner who doesn’t appreciate your property’s habitat value.  They could remove the native plants, clear cut native trees and turn the property into a landscape of turf grass.  This is the story of a wonderful private property with a change in ownership and a happy ending – for the habitat, wildlife, and people who will enjoy it for years to come.

In 1990, Tony and Sharon Fernandes purchased their dream property in Willistown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The beautiful 2.3-acre property consisted of two adjoining, mostly wooded parcels containing the headwaters of the northeast branch of Ridley Creek.  The circa 1906-1912 home on the site was built using rock extracted from a quarry on the property.  A large turf grass area where their two young sons could play sports was close to the house.  A neighbor’s pond was nearby.  As an

avid birder, Tony knew that their new property would be attractive to a multitude of bird species and other wildlife.  Also, he and Sharon understood that living in this natural area would give their family enjoyment and enhanced well-being.

For ten or fifteen years, the Fernandes family enjoyed the property as it was and did little to enhance the habitat.  However, with many non-native trees and plants and considerable lawn, they were interested in improving the site’s natural habitat. Between 2005 and 2010, they inventoried trees and other plants in their woods, identified native and non-native species, and researched how to deal with invasive non-natives. They began a 10-year program of girdling a number of Norway maples, eradicating bamboo, controlling garlic mustard, and removing English ivy and poison ivy vines that were smothering some of their native trees.

In 2011, Tony requested a Backyards for Nature site visit to get suggestions for adding native plants to improve the habitat for songbirds and butterflies, to create a meadow, and to better manage invasive plants.  My colleague, Edie Parnum, toured the property, made a number of recommendations, and provided a list of suggested native plants.  Two years later, Tony and Sharon hired GreenWeaver Landscapes (https://green-weaver.com/) to develop a landscape plan.  The multi-year plan included installation of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a front garden, creation of a meadow with native wildflowers and grasses, installation of a rain garden to collect runoff from downspouts and a perimeter drain around the house, and installation of gardens in the side and back yards.  In addition to these projects, GreenWeaver planted six native trees along the stream to increase shading of the stream and flood plain.

The Fernandes family soon noticed increased wildlife visiting their property.  Over 30 years, Tony recorded a phenomenal 138 bird species, including Barred Owl, American Bittern, Great Egret, nesting Red-shouldered Hawks, and 27 warbler species including Hooded, Cerulean, and Mourning Warblers!  Many butterflies, other pollinators and insects visit the meadow, including Monarch butterflies and Monarch caterpillars using the Common and Swamp milkweed host plants.  Mammals observed by the Fernandes family include Red Fox, American Mink, Muskrat, Red Squirrel, Flying Squirrel, Gray Squirrel, White-footed Mouse, Wood Rat, and White-tailed Deer.  Amphibians and reptiles include Leopard Frog, Eastern American Toad, Spring Peeper, Bullfrog, Northern Red-backed Salamander, Eastern Newt, Garter Snake, Northern Water Snake, and Snapping Turtle.

During their 33 years there, the Fernandes family thoroughly enjoyed the property and its various wildlife visitors and inhabitants.  When their boys were young, the family often walked in the woods, looking for frogs, salamanders, and other interesting creatures.  They caught fish, snails, crayfish, frogs, salamanders, and aquatic insects from the creek and put them in an aquarium for the boys to observe and study before releasing them back into the creek.  They took samples of the creek water, inspected its microorganisms under a microscope, and used a field guide to try to identify them. As a result of their exposure to nature, the Fernandes boys grew up with a great appreciation of the natural world.

In addition to their sons, Tony and Sharon also benefitted from being immersed in nature.  Sharon loved walking their dog on the trails they had made in the property’s wooded areas.  Tony walked in the woods with his

binoculars two or three times every week – anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour. He attests to how this helped him clear his mind and leave worries behind.  He found solace, was able to re-center himself and relax in his woods even during times of great stress. He says he has never found a better way to relax.

 

 

 

 

 

Despite their great love for the property and the memories it holds, the Fernandeses decided to sell and move to South Carolina.  In a stroke of good fortune, in the fall of 2023 Willistown Township learned of their desire to sell.  The Willistown Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission had been interested in purchasing land in this part of the township for some time.  The Township had a number of parks and preserves in other areas, but none in this section.  The Supervisors were also interested in the property because of the bird and animal habitat provided by native plants, the documentation of bird and plant species on the property, and the fact that it is next to a larger property that the township hopes to protect in the future.

By law, the Township couldn’t offer any more than the appraised value of the property.  Even though they would likely get a higher price on the open market, knowing that their legacy for the property would be appreciated and carried on by the Township, the Fernandeses accepted Willistown’s offer, and the Township acquired the property in late March, 2024.

Willistown Township will maintain the property as a bird sanctuary and wildlife habitat, and will make modifications to transform it into a Township park open to the public*.  Once that happens, many more people will be able to enjoy, learn from, relax, and immerse themselves in the nature that brought so much joy and fulfillment to its previous owners and stewards. It is a “win” for the Fernandeses, the people of Willistown Township, the habitat, and the wildlife that visits and calls it home.

*For additional information on Willistown Township plans for the property, see the township’s Summer 2024 newsletter, the WillisTowne Crier at chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.willistown.pa.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2903 as well as future newsletters.