Grant DeCosta, Acting Co-Director and Associate Director for Community Services, and Stephanie Armpriester, Acting Co-Director and Associate Director for Conservation discussed The Brandywine Conservancy, and its mission to protect and conserve the land, water, natural, and cultural resources of the Brandywine-Christina watershed.
They gave us the history of this rare open area, when the Brandywine River Valley was in danger of development in the 1960’s, a few locals raised enough money to purchase the land, and founded in the Brandywine Conservancy. The museum followed in 1971. Today they care and preserve the land through direct ownership or through trusts, adding properties to the original purchase, including King Ranch, Glenroy and Birmingham Hill, their first publicly accessible preserve. As stewards they are protecting the land and nature, including the drinking water the City of Wilmington, the native plants that help filter the water and cool the area, and the birds and insects that pollinate and add beauty. They are also advocates and advisors to local and state and regional municipalities and governments, helping with dams and dam removals and the water trail as well as Climate resiliency, especially after the damage done by the Hurricane Ida flooding. Finally, we discussed membership and ways to enjoy the lands, through hiking, bird watching, classes and plant sales.
Learn more about the Conservancy and the Brandywine River Art Museum at brandywine.org