The Falmouth Forest Garden is a restored, five-acre floodplain forest within the Conoy Wetlands Nature Preserve that is designed to provide long-lived perennial crops such as black walnuts, persimmons, pawpaws, serviceberries, and hazelnuts for improved wildlife habitat and a unique visitors’ experience. With the (re)introduction of 20 native, crop-producing species and a supporting groundcover of native herbs and wildflowers, the forest garden serves as a demonstration of regenerative agroforestry as a public-natural lands management strategy along the Northwest River Trail. The natural regeneration of black walnut trees and elderberry bushes set the template for restoration efforts and inspired the design by calling attention to the productivity of rich, alluvial soils.
Phase I and II of forest garden implementation were completed in 2018. Phase III calls for the installation of a visitors’ hub to invite people in from off of the River Trail.
Special thanks to our project partners include: Lancaster County Community Foundation, Rotary Club of Lancaster County, the Pine Tree Conservation Society, Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education, Green Light Plants, Conoy Township, and all of the volunteers for countless hours of planting, weeding, and watering.
