As many of you know, we have purchased a five-acre parcel of land adjacent to Sherwood Forest from the owner, Marsha Avery, for $850,000. This gives us the opportunity to add these natural woodlands, already considered by many to be part of Arden, to Arden’s Sherwood Forest, expanding it to 25 acres.
To help with this purchase, we acquired grants from both the state and county totaling two thirds of the purchase price ($566,666). For these significant and generous grants, we applaud the far-sighted assistance of State Representative Wayne Smith, County Executive Tom Gordon, and County Councilman Bob Weiner. These grants made the purchase possible for Arden. The Delaware State funds came through DNREC's Delaware Land and Water Conservation Trust Fund. Susan Moerschel is the contact for the fund.
This five-acre piece of woodlands is important, not just to
Arden, but to the surrounding communities as well. The headwater
of Perkins Run is at the top of the five acres and this blue-lined
stream runs through the center of the property. If developed, which
was the intent of the former owner, this fragile stream could have
been diverted into a culvert, all but destroying its ecosystem and
the natural habitat it supports.
In addition, any development – whether five single family homes or denser cluster housing – would have significantly impacted the runoff into Sherwood Forest, exacerbating an already desperate situation that erodes our forest and routinely results in flooding through the downstream communities of Ardencroft, Sunset Farms and beyond.
Sherwood Forest now provides a natural habitat that supports more than 100 species of birds, butterflies, small mammals, and a multitude of insects and plants. This five-acre parcel provides an essential buffer to this natural habitat. In fact, much of this forest has been designated a Critical Natural Area by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources.
Small parcels of undeveloped woodlands, like this one, are quickly disappearing in Brandywine Hundred as developers snatch them up to build homes, shopping centers, and cluster housing developments. Happily, we were able to protect this piece of woodlands, to preserve it in its natural state, for generations to come.
As of January, 2006, the Village of Arden had raised $147,912 in donations to preserve these five additional acres of Sherwood Forest. This total includes $10,000 from Ardencroft, $20,000 from Ardentown, and a $10,000 matching grant from the George & Miriam Martin Foundation), with the balance coming from individuals.
On March 11, 2004, the residents of Arden decided by referendum, by
a vote of 260 to 24, with an 80.5% turnout, to purchase this property.
Whatever money still needed will be covered by a mortgage that will necessitate
a 15-year land-rent increase for all Arden leaseholds. Our hope is to
minimize that land-rent increase. In accordance with that referendum,
the property itself was purchased on April 30, 2004.
Any amount that you can give is appreciated and will show your support for this crucial project and the future of our surrounding environment.
- All donations are tax-deductible.
- Please write your check to the "Village of Arden" with "Sherwood Forest Trust" on the memo line. Mail your check to Sherwood Forest Trust, Village of Arden, 2119 The Highway, Arden, DE 19810.
- Thank you for your support!
MORE INFORMATION
Avery Property Fact Sheet
Click above to learn more about the five acres and its preservation.
Delaware Nature Society Statement
This state-wide organization encourages your support.
Aerial View of Sherwood Forest
with the Avery Property as marked for a housing development. We will keep
it as forest!
Delaware Department
of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC)
Oversees such things as air quality, beaches, biodiversity, dog control, fisheries,
hazardous waste, hunting, mosquito control, pollution prevention, recycling,
storm water, waste water, wetlands, and wildlife for the state of Delaware.
DUCK RACE
Six Duck Race photos by Hardy Hoegger
Pete Renzetti and Lilah Kleban were the winners of the Duck Race organized by
Dick and Dorsey Lebeis to benefit the Sherwood Forest Trust. Contratulations!
www.governorpeterson.org
Visit Governor Russ Peterson's website. Russ Peterson, scientist, citizen activist,
former Secretary of the Village of Arden, former executive with the DuPont
Co., Republican governor of Delaware, assistant to Republican Gov. Nelson
Rockefeller of New York, head of the U.S. Council on Environmental Quality
under Presidents Nixon and Ford, head of the Office of Technology Assessment,
reporting to six Republican and six Democratic members of Congress, president
of the National Audubon Society, internationally acclaimed environmental
leader, United Nations goodwill ambassador, and faculty member at Dartmouth
College, Carleton College and the University of Wisconsin Madison. His numerous
national and international awards include 15 honorary doctorates. In 1996
he became a Democrat.
AVERY TASK FORCE
Lynda Kolski, Chair; Beverly Barnett, Marianne Cinaglia, Aaron Hamburger, Jeffrey Politis, Bill Press, Sally Sharp, Jannie Stearns, Steven Threefoot, and Tom Wheeler served for many years making this addition to Sherwood Forest possible.
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Ardencroft Secretary: 302 529-1774
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