Nearly nine months after non-native and invasive trees and plants were removed from the grounds of the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, work on the forest restoration project continues with the installation of deer fences and a new section of trail.

In early 2018, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and Fairmount Park Conservancy began restoring a 30-acre site in West Fairmount Park to its natural habitat. The grounds were previously filled with invasive and non-native trees and plants that didn’t provide ecological benefits to the site.

In mid-October, after all of the invasive and non-native trees and plants were removed from the site, the project team installed fences meant to keep deer out of three areas: Lansdowne Glen, Montgomery Creek, and Michaux Grove.

The fences feature yellow gates that are pedestrian accessible. In addition, a $10,000 Green Region Program grant received from PECO allowed the Conservancy to build a new half-mile-long trail, featuring a wooden bridge in the Lansdowne Glen section that will connect to the recently reopened Pavilion in the Trees sculpture. The grant will also go to support future informational signage. (Click here to see the area on Google Maps.)

In fall 2019, native species will be planted on the grounds, including several varieties of oak and hickory, beech, ironwood, hornbeam, and holly, just to name a few. Eventually, the plantings will increase plant diversity, improve wildlife habitat, and make the grounds around the Horticulture Center that more beautiful.

To learn more about the restoration project, please click here.