Conoy Wetlands Nature Preserve

About This Preserve

Falmouth Forest Garden at Conoy Wetlands Nature Preserve

The Falmouth Forest Garden is a 5 acre floodplain restoration project that was designed to function as a floodplain forest while honoring the productive alluvial soils by reintroducing native, perennial, crop producing native tree and shrub species such as black walnut, shagbark hickory, swamp white oak, persimmon, pawpaw, nannyberry, serviceberry, chokeberries, elderberry, hazelnut, blackberry and raspberry with a mixed herbaceous meadow of healthful and pollinator-specific nectars. The Falmouth Forest Garden is believed to be the first forest garden established on publicly accessible lands in Pennsylvania. It serves to enhance wildlife habitat as well as the experience for visitors of the popular 14 mile long Northwest River Trail.

Sponsors of the Falmouth Forest garden include: Lancaster County Community Foundation, Rotary Club of Lancaster, Conoy Township, Lancaster County Bird Club, Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education, and Green Light Plants LLC.

Watershed

Susquehanna River.

Hunting Information

No hunting.

Acquisition History

This land was purchased in 2017 with funds donated by the Pine Tree Conservation Society. In 2019, the Conservancy added 49 acres to the Conoy Wetlands Nature Preserve with funding from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR), using a grant from the High Foundation and property donated by Brookfield Renewable as the PA DCNR grant matches.  The land donated by Brookfield Renewable was acquired as part of a nationally recognized landscape protection project known as the PPL Project. Funds for that Project were provided by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, The Conservation Fund, Lancaster County, York County, PPL, Talen Energy, and Brookfield Renewable.

Address

111 Collins Rd, Bainbridge, PA 17502

Conoy Wetlands is accessible via the Northwest River Trail. Parking is available at the Falmouth Boat Launch. Hike south on the Northwest River Trail for approximately ¼ of a mile to enter the preserve.

Amenities

Kiosk. Preserve sign.

Prevent Tick Borne Illness!

  • Wear repellent
  • Check for ticks after your visit
  • Shower soon after being outdoors
  • Call your doctor if you get a fever or rash

For more information visit cdc.gov/lyme

Spotted Lanternfly Alert!

Lancaster County is a Spotted Lanternfly quarantine area. This highly invasive insect is a serious threat to the health of our forests.

What you can do to help:

  1. Report spotted lanternfly sightings to Penn State Extension or call 1-888-4BADFLY.
  2. Stop the Spread. Look before you leave! Check gear, vehicles, and trailers.
  3. Smash them, bash them, kill them dead.
  4. Scrap and smash egg masses.

Emergency Information

In case of emergency, call 911

Nearest Hospital – 24.5 miles away
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital
555 N. Duke Street, Lancaster PA 17602

Additional Resources

Bainbridge Fire Company Station 71
717-426-2177

Susquehanna Regional Police Department
800-957-2677