Saunders Woods Preserve

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Saunders Woods Preserve

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Saunders Woods Preserve is a natural oasis for wildlife and community residents in the heart of the Learn more at www.natlands.org.

Donated to Natural Lands in 1988 by Dorothy Saunders, the property—originally known as “Little Farm”—has long been a place of refuge for both people and wildlife. For decades, the preserve’s trails and circa-1830 barn have welcomed families, students, scout troops, equestrians, and community members; the forest and meadows are home to a myriad of songbird species and other wildlife. Saunders Woods Preserve is owned and managed by non-profit conservation organization Natural Lands.

10/15/2026

It's that oh-so special time of year again...time to leave the leaves! Really, the entire food chain benefits from leaf litter come winter. Fallen leaves provide vital habitat to overwintering insects, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Leaf litter also makes for wonderful nesting material and insulation for our den-dwellers like groundhogs. Then, of course, our larger mammals such as foxes and coyotes still need to hunt, and where are many of their go-to meals hiding out? You guessed it, the leaves!

Help a firefly make it to summer. Feed a fox. Do it for the salamanders.

Even if you live in a small space, leaf litter can be fastened to containers, window boxes, and raised garden beds with chicken wire. It's just one of those things where every little bit helps.

Happy fall, all!

P.S. Don't feel too guilty if you still need to mow some...leaves become excellent dirt!

📸: Image designed by hand and in-house by Brittni Hribar, Senior Graphic Designer

10/07/2026

Alert: Deer management season is underway. Controlled hunting of white-tailed deer protects the ecological balance of our nature preserves. Only Natural Lands permit-holders may hunt the preserves.

Natural Lands has operated our controlled hunting program safely for decades. Hunters must apply to participate in the program, complete regular training and proficiency testing, and comply with strict safety protocols.

Preserve visitation and hunting do overlap, though our hunters are generally more active at dawn and dusk and they avoid hunting near hiking trails (as hikers often scare away deer). Some visitors chose to wear blaze orange during their visits. As always, dogs must be kept on leash and stay on trails.

You can learn more about our controlled hunting practice here: natlands.org/hunting

09/25/2026

American persimmons are absolutely beloved by our native wildlife! Skunks, foxes, black bears, turkeys, woodpeckers...all these critters (and many more) enjoy this fall fruit.

That’s why we kindly ask all our visitors not to forage. The wild fruits (and other foods) of our preserves belong to the wildlife who call our properties home.

State parks, however, do allow foraging for those who are interested.

📸: Rachel Rhodes

09/18/2026

Did you know spiders can make multiple types of silk? Unlike silk-making insects, spiders have specialized silks for different functions. One spider can usually make at least three different varieties of silk, while some orb weavers can make up to seven.

📸: Mae Axelrod

09/11/2026

Meadows hold interest throughout the year, but they definitely have a moment in fall! Blooming goldenrod, ironweed, rudbeckia, and other perennials provide important late-season nectar for our pollinators, some of which are preparing to migrate, currently migrating, or otherwise prepping for the winter ahead.

But also...meadows in fall are just so gosh-darn pretty.

📸: Vince Pellegrini

09/04/2026

Catch bugs! Climb trees! Flip rocks! No, these are not new family-friendly curses. They're simple things anyone and everyone can do with their kids to keep them engaged in the outdoors amidst the chaos of the back-to-school season. And let's be honest...you could probably benefit from a little extra time outdoors, too.

Other fun nature-play ideas include:

🗺️ Treasure hunting. Hide a natural treasure, then make a map showing where to find it.

🧚‍♀️ Crafting a magical residence. Fairy house, gnome home, or toad abode, make a tiny house for the other residents of your yard...real or fiction!

⛵️ Building a natural boat. Is it a pirate ship? Vikings? Make two (or more) and race them down a stream.

🪵 Constructing something together. A swing, a shelter, or a simple hammock, it doesn’t need to be grand.

🛶 Kayaking. A classic!

Bonus tip: Just be present. Whether it's the playground after school or the sidelines of a soccer field, nature can be found almost anywhere by those who go looking for it.

📸: S. Badiyah Austin

08/27/2026

The Pileated Woodpecker digs characteristically rectangular holes in trees to find ants. These excavations can be so broad and deep that they can cause small trees to break in half.

📸: Kate Rash, Taproot Photography

08/20/2026

Monarch butterfly on New York ironweed

📸: Kate Rash, Taproot Photography

08/13/2026

Take a rest, sit for a spell, enjoy the nature that surrounds you here.

📸: Kate Rash, Taproot Photography

08/06/2026

Donated to Natural Lands in 1988 by Dorothy Saunders, Saunders Woods Preserve—originally known as “Little Farm”—has long been a place of refuge for both people and wildlife. For decades, the preserve’s trails and circa-1830 barn have welcomed families, students, scout troops, equestrians, and community members; the forest and meadows are home to a myriad of songbird species and other wildlife.

📸: Kate Rash, Taproot Photography

Address

1020 Waverly Road
Gladwyne, PA
19035

Telephone

+16103535587

Website

https://natlands.org/saunders-woods-preserve/

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