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Thank You Trails
Day Volunteers!
Over 50 volunteers came out on National Trails Day Saturday,
June 7th to help spruce up the woods. Thanks to our supporters, REI,
Marlton and the Camden County Division of Environmental Affairs the
event was a huge success! Here are some of the photos from the event!
Enjoy!
About
Saddler's Woods
Saddler's Woods is a 25 acre urban forest located
in Haddon Township, New Jersey. Saddler's Woods surrounds the headwater
spring of the main branch of the Newton Creek, a tributary of the Delaware
River in Camden County, and is unique for its combined features of an
old growth forest, young woodlands, and wetlands all located within
five miles of Philadelphia, PA. Every year, thousands of visitors enjoy
Saddler's Woods for passive recreation and nature interpretation.
The old growth portion is a time-capsule,
showing visitors the type of forest that once existed when the Arowmen
and Erinwonek tribes of the Leni Lenape nation lived here. In the early
1600s, European settlers began to arrive and the forests were cleared
for farms, timber, and fuel. In the 1830s, Joshua Saddler escaped a
Maryland plantation to seek refuge among the large Quaker abolitionist
population. Joshua Saddler found work with a local Quaker farmer, Cy
Evans, and gained his freedom. He purchased a small farm and raised
his family next to the woods. In 1868 Joshua Saddler wrote into his
will that none of his heirs "shall cut the timber thereon".
For this preservation ethic, the woods, formerly known as the MacArthur
Tract, were officially named in his honor in January 2004.
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Saddler's Woods Conservation
Association
Saddler's Woods Conservation Association,
SWCA, is a 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to education, restoration,
and research of Saddler's Woods. Through programs, tours, hands on restoration,
and field studies, we strive to promote the natural and cultural resources
unique to this 25 acre urban forest.
The organization was formed by Haddon Township residents
who were active in the movement to save the woods from an athletic fields
development plan. But saving the woods was just the beginning. Unfortunately,
Saddler's Woods had suffered decades of fragmentation and neglect. Since
its preservation, SWCA volunteers have worked vigorously, logging hundreds
of hours towards restoration and education. For
its efforts, SWCA was honored by the Association of New Jersey Environmental
Commissions, ANJEC, with an Environmental Achievement Award.
SWCA achieves its goals by partnering with
community groups and area schools and by utilizing grant funds for restoration,
education, and research. To date, SWCA has received grants from the
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Inc., the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation, Camden County's Open Space Clean Communities program, Conservation
Resources Inc. and The William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation..
SWCA, is managed by four volunteer board
directors; the Director of Forest Management, the Director of Education,
the Director of Communications, and the Director of Finance.
John Nystedt, Director of Forest Management
John oversees restoration projects in Saddler's Woods, applying
his industry experience to Saddler's Woods. John is an associate at
Andropogon Associates, Ltd. in Philadelphia, is a N.J. Certified Landscape
Architect, and has 25 years of experience in landscape architecture
and ecological planning.
Marguerite Downham, Director of Education
Marguerite "Maggi" Downham conducts tours and leads educational
activities for students of all ages. She worked for many years to preserve
Saddler's Woods, and was honored by the Delaware Riverkeeper organization
and the Audubon Wildlife Society for her activismand stewardship. She
is a teacher of business education with a Master of Arts Degree from
Rowan University, Glassboro, N.J.
Janet Goehner-Jacobs, Director of Communications
Janet was active in the effort to save the woods and was honored
by the Audubon Wildlife Society for her efforts. Janet is the
webmaster for saddlerswoods.org, writes all informational literature,
and regularly invests 25 volunteer hours a week managing the day to
day operations of the organization.
David Jacobs, Director of Finance
In addition to assisting with activities in the woods, David Jacobs
maintains the financial records for the association and pursues grant
opportunities. David received his B.S. degree in Accounting from the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is a Certified Public
Accountant licensed in the state of New Jersey.
Support our mission.
Become a member!
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