Press release by Tracey Romero, contributor for North Penn Now on 21 March 2025
Kirsten Werner, senior director of communications at Natural Lands, has worked for the nonprofit for more than 15 years. (Credit: Kristen Bower)
Natural Lands has been protecting open space since the early 1950’s
Natural Lands is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving open spaces, caring for nature and connecting people to the outdoors in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.
What makes it unique among other local conservation organizations is its large network of nature preserves that includes more than 40 nature preserves and Stoneleigh, a natural garden, totaling more than 23,000 acres of open land.
Natural Land also helps other organizations, mainly state parks and forests, and municipalities, acquire open space. Kirsten Werner, senior director of communications at Natural Lands, spoke to Access Network about the work of Natural Lands, and how community members can get involved.
“I’ve worked a little more than 15 years with Natural Lands. When I go for hikes around the region it feels good to know that through my work I have contributed in some part to preserving the land,” she explained.
“We are the oldest and largest conservation organization in the area. We work with individual landowners, municipalities and townships and connect people with the outdoors.”
One significant win was the preservation of the Crebilly Farm in Westtown Township in Chester County completed in November of 2024.
Crebilly Preserve
Natural Lands teamed up with Westtown Township, and the farm’s owners the Robinson family to permanently protect the land.
According to Werner, in November 2022, Westtown Township residents voted in favor of an Open Space Fund referendum, which provided about $7.5 million for the property’s preservation and stewardship. Natural Lands raised $16.5 million in additional public and private grant funding and gifts from individual donors.
Werner added that creating opportunities for people to connect with and learn from nature is also a big part of the nonprofit’s mission.
And so is caring for the land. She said that saving the land is just the first step. The preserves and garden need active restoration and maintenance to ensure that plants, insects and wildlife are able to thrive.
Werner said one of the misconceptions about land conservation efforts is that nature just looks beautiful and doesn’t benefit people in any significant way. This so far from the truth, she explained, as we rely on forests and other natural lands for our clean air and water and to reduce flooding.
Trees and other plants near the creeks and other waterways act as a buffer against polluted water, eroding soil and toxic chemicals. The plants’ roots also help control erosion.
Another misconception, she said, is that once the land is saved, there is nothing else left to do.
Werner explained that Natural Lands plants thousands of native trees every year on its preserves. They also actively control the spread of invasive plant species which can destroy native plant diversity, essential for healthy insect and wildlife populations.
Natural Lands has also been working to transform ponds on its land into wetlands. According to its website, more than half the plants and animals in Pennsylvania rely on wetlands for food and reproduction.
The nonprofit’s controlled hunting program manages deer population on its land. Werner said that there are 10 times more white-tailed deer living in our region than our land can support.
Biggest roadblocks to their mission
Werner said that a major roadblock to fulfilling their mission is funding.
“Open space does not happen without funding. For every conservation project, we need to apply for grant funding. There is never enough money for the projects we want to do.”
How can you get involved?
Werner explained, “We are member-based so membership support is important to the work we do.”
She added that there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer with them as well — from one-off events like helping with tree planting to a deeper commitment like becoming a Force of Nature volunteer which requires a commitment of at least 20 hours per year.
You can also simply visit the preserves or this spring, rip out at least one invasive plant species from your garden and replace with a native one.
“With land being developed so quickly, our own backyards are so critical,” she said.
In effort to encourage more people to connect to the outdoors, Werner said that all the nature preserves and garden are open to the public and free of charge. They also host hundreds of events every year.
The nonprofit’s land includes:
- Stoneleigh, a natural garden, Villanova
- Bear Creek Preserve, Wilkes-Barre Township
- Gwynedd Preserve, North Wales
- Meng Preserve, Schwenksville
- Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary, Easton
Visit WeConservePA’s Pennsylvania Land Conservation map to explore near you.
If you are interested in which land trusts work in your area, visit WeConservePA’s Find a Land Trust map.
For more maps, visit https://weconservepa.org/gis/.
About Natural Lands
Natural Lands is a non-profit organization that saves open space, cares for nature, and connects people to the outdoors in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.
https://natlands.org/what-we-do/save-open-space/why-protecting-land-matters/
