Hildacy Preserve

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Hildacy Preserve Natural Lands 55-acre Hildacy Farm Preserve contains a diversity of habitats that attract abundant wildlife. In 1981, Mrs. Learn more at www.natlands.org.

See our website for more information including our history, a trail map, and hours of operation. Hildacy Preserve is virtually all that remains of a 300-acre land grant from William Penn to a local tanner and his family. Once prized for its mature oak trees, the land was slowly cleared for timber and agriculture. By the late 1800s, only one small grove of trees remained. In 1936, Hilda and Cyril Fox (hence the name “Hildacy”) bought the property. They lived here for nearly 40 years, and used the farm to raise race horses and German shepherds. As the surrounding area was developed, the Foxes were determined to keep their land open for wildlife. Fox donated Hildacy to Natural Lands, with instructions to continue the Foxes’ conservation work. Since that time, we have worked to restore the woodlands, meadows, and wetlands to a more natural state. Hildacy Preserve is owned and managed by non-profit conservation organization Natural Lands.

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby 📸: Ralph Hall
10/22/2026

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

📸: Ralph Hall

It's that oh-so special time of year again...time to leave the leaves! Really, the entire food chain benefits from leaf ...
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

Alert: Deer management season is underway. Controlled hunting of white-tailed deer protects the ecological balance of ou...
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

Did you know spiders can make multiple types of silk? Unlike silk-making insects, spiders have specialized silks for dif...
09/25/2026

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.

📸: Gary Nelson

This salamander is still just a baby, and will rely on the shelter, protection, and moisture of leaf litter to survive t...
09/18/2026

This salamander is still just a baby, and will rely on the shelter, protection, and moisture of leaf litter to survive to see spring. Please keep this in mind as the leaves begin to fall, and make a plan to leave the leaves wherever and however you can this year.

Remember, one person can’t do everything...but everyone can do something 😊 Even just one extra square-foot of leaves in the yard is better than none.

📸: Preston Wilson

Save your plastic lids for us, and contribute to a wonderful new mural by local artist Brittany Grala (Hope is the way, ...
09/11/2026

Save your plastic lids for us, and contribute to a wonderful new mural by local artist Brittany Grala (Hope is the way, Love is the answer.) to be created at Crow's Nest Preserve!

This project is inspired by the fantastic work of Plastic Shed, creators of the UK’s largest recycled plastic bottle lid mural. Plastic already sticks around for such a long time…why not recycle it into art?

Lids will be collected now through the end of October. The collection bucket can be found at the kiosk.

Happy cap collecting, and many thanks in advance to those who donate!

Meadows hold interest throughout the year, but they definitely have a moment in fall! Blooming goldenrod, ironweed, rudb...
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

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

Tall tickseed (Coreopsis tripteris) can grow up to nine feet tall by summer's end. It's a bee magnet, feeds goldfinches ...
08/25/2026

Tall tickseed (Coreopsis tripteris) can grow up to nine feet tall by summer's end. It's a bee magnet, feeds goldfinches in early fall, and is generally deer resistant due to its licorice-scented aroma.

📸: Kristen Bower

Good morning!📸: Jennifer Mathes
08/18/2026

Good morning!

📸: Jennifer Mathes

Address

1031 Palmers Mill Road
Media, PA
19063

Telephone

+16103535587

Website

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