First State National Historical Park ⓘ

A native plant is a plant that has existed in this region before colonization by Europeans in the 1630s. A non-native plant is a plant that has been introduced to an area by human activity, meaning anything that came with those early European settlers, along with those have settled in this region beyond. One tricky bit of information to remember here is: not all non-native plants are invasive, but all invasive plants are non-native. Invasive species are non-native and exhibit rapid growth and have other traits that allow them to spread more easily, and overtake native species. Invasive species can cause serious impacts on the native ecosystem.

Today, in the Brandywine Valley unit of First State NHP, we can see other non-native plant species that have been introduced from Asia, Africa, and other European countries. The Botanical Inventory completed in 2015 concluded that approximately two-thirds of the total number of individual plant species found within the park’s boundary are native, and one-third of the total number of individual plant species found within the park’s boundary are non-native. However, even though there are fewer individual non-native plant species in total, they are located more frequently throughout the park than the native plant species, and are aggressively overpowering the native species.

What’s Below: Northern Delaware sits within the Piedmont Plateau Region, which has a unique geological composition – or in other words, the types of minerals found within a rock and the overall chemical makeup of those rocks. The Piedmont Plateau influences the plant communities found in this part of the region. For example: trees that grow in Maine are different from the trees that grow in Florida, and different from trees that grow in Arizona; all because of what’s underneath, in the minerals and chemicals in those rocks.

The Wildlife: When non-native plants displace native plant species, it causes changes in the arrangement of the local plant communities. This directly affects animal habitats and animal behaviors, such as foraging and grazing, and also impacts the abundance of wildlife within the park.

Climate Change: Managing the spread of non-native plant species and restoring native plant species is extremely difficult and can be very challenging, but is super important. The more non-native plants are present in a given area compared to native plants, other threats, like climate change, intensify the impacts on the local ecosystem, because things are out of balance. Native plants are better equipped to handle changes in the environment, because they are in their home-habitat.

First State NHP staff, volunteers, and local partner organizations have recorded 178 species within the park, and the majority of these species are birds. Park staff are dedicated to continuing to inventory the wildlife found within the park. It is unclear just how many species live here, but we want to find out! Species are being documented annually to better understand those species, and to inform management. The National Park Service recognizes the park’s significant natural resources and has invested in scientific research to document and learn more about the wildlife in the park.

Where can I see wildlife? Animals of all kinds can be seen throughout the park, but different habitats support different species. Mammals can be seen scurrying through the woodlands and fields, amphibians can be found near wetlands, reptiles near rock structures, and birds soaring through the sky and tree canopy.

Understanding the behavior and the habitat of an animal you’re interested in will help to find them within the park. Early morning and evening hours are when animals tend to feed and are more easily seen. But remember, the numbers and variety of animals you see are largely a matter of luck and coincidence. Bring some binoculars to be able to enjoy animals from a safe distance, and have a wonderful time exploring! As far as seeing a variety of animals - we hope you get lucky; may the odds be ever in your favor; may the force be with you ... you get the drift!

The diversity and abundance of birds in the Brandywine Valley unit of the park draws nature lovers, photographers, and bird enthusiasts.

Due to the diversity of habitats in the park, invertebrates can be found everywhere - you may just have to look a little closer!

Background: The Brandywine Valley unit of First State National Historical Park is the largest unit of the park, covering 1,359 acres along the border of Delaware and Pennsylvania. This land was originally inhabited by the Lenni-Lenape people. Later, early Quaker industrialists developed the area, and it was eventually sold to William Poole Bancroft. Bancroft created the Woodlawn Trustees to manage and protect the land. In 1959, the Woodlawn Trustees began building bridle paths to help their officers and guests explore more of the area. They used some existing farm roads and added new paths for recreational use. By 1968, these paths were open to the public for activities like hiking, biking, and horseback riding. In 2013, roughly 1,105 acres were donated to the National Park Service (NPS), and in 2021 another 254 acres were donated. In 2024, the park completed a Comprehensive Trail Plan that defines a designated shared-use 27.8-mile trail network that will provide high-quality recreational opportunities, promote visitor safety and enjoyment and preserve connectivity with leased property within the Brandywine Valley section of the park and neighboring properties.

Timeline: Over a five-year period, the NPS anticipates implementing trail construction and modifications in the following order: Trails affected by mica mine fencing Trails intersecting private inholdings Trails that help promote user safety, such as avoiding dangerous road crossings Trails promoting connectivity throughout the Park Trails in the Rocky Run area Trail closures would generally occur concurrently with associated trail construction and modifications. As resources allow, implementation may occur concurrently in multiple portions of the unit. Upcoming Trail Projects: Dates: Project Location: Work Description: Volunteer Recruitment: September 15 - September 23 North Central Re-route, repair, closures, and construction This project is not open to volunteers. September 29 - October 7 North Central Re-route, repair, closures, and construction This project is not open to volunteers.

A. The National Park Service is not targeting Mountain Bikers; however, the National Park Service has regulations in 36CFR §4.30 (the Bicycle Rule) that establish administrative pathways to allow bicycle use on trails within park areas. The Revised EA meets the requirement in the Bicycle Rule to evaluate the effects of bicycle use on each shared-use trail in the Brandywine Valley unit of the Park. In addition to the planning and National Environmental Policy Act compliance documents (which are typically the same document), the Superintendent must prepare, and the Regional Director must approve, a written determination stating that the addition of bicycle use on the trails is consistent with the protection of the park area’s natural, scenic and aesthetic values, safety considerations and management objectives, and will not disturb wildlife or park resources.

At the completion of the planning process, the NPS will promulgate a special regulation, through a public notice and comment rulemaking process, that will authorize the Superintendent to allow bicycles, by designation in the Superintendent’s Compendium, on all or a portion of the trails identified in the selected action.

The National Park Service is identifying new trail projects to start working on. When projects are available, we will share updates on our social media and email volunteers who are interested. We’ll also post volunteer recruitment opportunities on volunteer.gov.

If you want to receive email notifications about volunteer opportunities, please email us to sign up.

Review the planning documents associated to the Brandywine Valley Trail Plan including the EA, FONSI, PA, etc.

There is nothing so American as our national parks… The fundamental idea behind the parks… is that the country belongs to the people, that it is in process of making for the enrichment of the lives of all of us.