Radnor Hunt

In the mid-1960s, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, a rural community nestled in the historic Brandywine Valley, faced possible massive industrial development. The impact would have dramatically changed the character and future of this area. At the same time, and for decades thereafter, development proposed throughout the region, particularly in floodplain areas, threatened to devastate water supplies for numerous communities in southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware, including the City of Wilmington.

Appreciating the need for rapid action, a group of local residents bought endangered land and founded the Brandywine Conservancy in 1967. The first conservation easements, protecting more than five and one-half miles along the Brandywine, were granted in 1969. Today, the Conservancy holds more than 458 conservation easements and has protected more than 62,000 acres in Chester and Delaware counties, Pennsylvania, and in New Castle County, Delaware.

The Conservancy is a leading local and national advocate for responsible land use, open space preservation and water protection. The Conservancy focuses on integrating conservation with economic development through its Land Stewardship,Land Conservation, and Municipal Assistance programs. The Conservancy works with individuals; state, county and municipal governments; and private organizations to permanently protect and conserve natural, cultural and scenic resources.