Saunders Woods Preserve

Saunders Woods Preserve 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.

Catch bugs! Climb trees! Flip rocks! No, these are not new family-friendly curses. They're simple things anyone and ever...
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

The Pileated Woodpecker digs characteristically rectangular holes in trees to find ants. These excavations can be so bro...
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

Monarch butterfly on New York ironweed📸: Kate Rash, Taproot Photography
08/20/2026

Monarch butterfly on New York ironweed

📸: Kate Rash, Taproot Photography

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

Donated to Natural Lands in 1988 by Dorothy Saunders, Saunders Woods Preserve—originally known as “Little Farm”—has long...
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

There is a myth that bumblebees "shouldn't be able to fly." The misconception arose in the 1930s when an aerodynamicist ...
07/24/2026

There is a myth that bumblebees "shouldn't be able to fly." The misconception arose in the 1930s when an aerodynamicist mistakenly applied fixed-wing airplane equations to the insects, failing to account for their rapid, twisting wing movements. Instead of simply flapping up and down, bumblebees beat their wings in a fast, figure-eight motion. This rapid movement (up to 240 times per second) creates tiny, low-pressure air vortexes (miniature hurricanes) above their wings that act as a suction, generating enough lift to keep their heavy bodies airborne.

📸: Preston Wilson

"Nature alone is antique, and the oldest art a mushroom."~ Ralph Waldo Emerson📸: Jill Sabre
07/23/2026

"Nature alone is antique, and the oldest art a mushroom."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

📸: Jill Sabre

Can you tell the difference between a Viceroy (left) and a Monarch (right) butterfly? Viceroy butterflies have a distinc...
07/17/2026

Can you tell the difference between a Viceroy (left) and a Monarch (right) butterfly? Viceroy butterflies have a distinct black line running horizontally across the lower hind wings, while Monarchs do not. Monarchs are generally larger, with a wingspan of about 3.5 to 4 inches, whereas Viceroys are smaller, typically 2.6 to 3 inches. Monarchs have thicker black veins on their wing patterns.

📸: Bill Moses

What color words would you use to describe the garter snake? Caramel? Khaki? Custard cream?📸: Jill Sabre
07/16/2026

What color words would you use to describe the garter snake? Caramel? Khaki? Custard cream?

📸: Jill Sabre

Shrubby St. John's Wort is a host plant for a variety of caterpillars, but is especially beloved by bumblebees!📸: Jill S...
07/09/2026

Shrubby St. John's Wort is a host plant for a variety of caterpillars, but is especially beloved by bumblebees!

📸: Jill Sabre

Address

1020 Waverly Road
Gladwyne, PA
19035

Telephone

+16103535587

Website

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