Erie, PA (May 23, 2022) – One of the unique aspects of Asbury Woods is the diversity of ecosystems that a visitor can experience on our 216 acres of property. Visitors can travel through forest, wetland, and meadow habitats along our five miles of trails. The two distinct meadow areas include a small area along Asbury Road and eight acres of meadow at Brown’s Farm on Sterrettania Road. The eight acres at Brown’s Farm require revitalization and restoration to ensure it stays a meadow habitat.
Beginning June 6, Monarch Vegetation Services, based in Cochranton, PA, will begin rehabilitation of a portion of the meadow area at Browns Farm. Meadows provide critical habitats for pollinators and other wildlife such as bees, bats, butterflies, birds, and mammals. The meadow areas of our property are central in our educational curriculum for school children as they tell the ecological stories of interconnected ecosystems, changes to ecosystems, diversity of habitat, and human impacts on ecosystems. Careful observers would notice that at Brown’s Farm, the meadow has begun a natural succession process to revert to a forest with the establishment of larger trees and woody shrubs. In our region, some amount of human intervention is typically needed to maintain meadow habitats. Monarch Vegetation Services specializes in native and pollinator-friendly vegetation.
The rehabilitation of the meadow areas will include mowing, removal of various woody plants, treatment of invasive species, and then over-seeding the site with a custom mix of native grasses, plants, and flowers. The project is expected to happen in several phases over the next 2-3 years, but a visible portion will commence on June 6 on plots 1 and 2, noted on the attached map. A portion of the area will be closed off to visitors during the work, with the expected closure being a few weeks. There will be public access to the trail network using adjacent trails.
Asbury Woods Executive Director, Jennifer Farrar, noted, “This is an important project in our efforts to manage and protect the property. We’re grateful to Erie Insurance for the grant funding that allows us to move forward on the first phase of the meadow rehabilitation.” She continued, “In Spring 2020, we worked with Monarch Vegetation’s sister company, Meadville Land Services, to restore areas of our property that were impacted when we rebuilt the boardwalk near the Nature Center. Thanks to their expertise, two years later, you’d never know heavy equipment and construction had taken place. We look forward to their assistance on this important conservation initiative.”
ABOUT ASBURY WOODS
The mission of Asbury Woods is to inspire a greater connection to the natural world by protecting, managing, and interpreting our property, providing outdoor recreational opportunities, and offering environmental education experiences.
Asbury Woods achieves this mission through a diverse array of educational, environmental, and recreational programming for schools, community groups, families, and individuals of all ages. In addition, Asbury Woods manages and maintains 216 acres of preserved property, including native species, old-growth forests, landscaped gardens, wetlands, meadows, boardwalk trails, and dirt trails.
The Andrew J. Conner Nature Center at Asbury Woods is the cornerstone of the educational programming, providing animal exhibits, a touch-and-learn Discovery Classroom, and free public access. The Brown’s Farm Barn, located on Sterrettania Road, provides additional programming space for summer camps, school visits, and community programs. The Greenway Trail at Asbury Woods consists of adjacent tracts of land, which provides a network of trails connecting Browns Farm and the Nature Center. The Greenway Trail provides ample recreational opportunities for hiking, running, biking, skiing, snowshoeing, and wading in Walnut Creek. Trail users will find peaceful spots to rest and relax to take in the serene vistas.
Asbury Woods is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is made possible by funding from program and service fees, grants, special events, and generous donations from members and patrons. Annually, Asbury Woods positively impacts thousands of people who use the trails, attend festivals or participate in education and community outreach programs.
