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History of the Fuller Preserve The Fuller Preserve happened in 1993 when our neighbors Peter & Joan Fuller donated 64 acres to Heritage Conservancy. You can visit Heritage Conservancy website to learn more about all of their great work to preserve land in Bucks County or see a map of conserved land that is part of our the Cooks Creek Watershed. Cooks Creek Watershed area Map . History of Jere Knight Trail Peter & Joan created the Jere Knight hiking trail back in 1981 to be used as part of a Cooks Creek Nature Center. The trail was dedicated to Jere Knight because Jere was a key person who helped get Cooks Creek protected as well as championing numerous other environmental issues. She edited the original Lassie book that her husband, Eric Knight, wrote in 1940 as well as authoring several other works. Jere was an amazing accomplished woman. Click here to learn more: Jere Knight The trail has been re-opened and expanded into a 2.2 mile muti-loop that wonders through the woods, passes besides a Cooks Creek tributary stream and climbs up past a lovely gorge and then to an overlook of a large neighbors field, through some old growth forest then across to an overlook of a farm on Slifer Valley Road and then through the woods, across the center field and back to the start of the trail head. Presently there are wooden sign posts marking any splits in the trail. The trail wanders through the woods and you will likely see deer, an occasional fox, lots of different birds, a red tail hawk overhead scouring the fields for some diner and incredible assortment of trees, ferns, mushrooms and plants.
The total hike takes less than an hour at a leisurely pace. As you climb up the hill the trail heads off to the left. As you follow the stream bed take the 1st fork to the left to go under a fallen tree and down to the stream. Continue along the stream and the trail heads back up to the main trail loop. Chestnut Tree cross pollination Orchard
In the center of the trail is a Chestnut Tree orchard that is being used to develop blight resistant chestnut trees. Adjoining 40 acre Pursell Property In 2017 a 2nd property that adjoins the Fuller Preserve was acquired by Heritage that was purchased from Doris Pursell in honor of her late husband Jerry Pursell. Bucks County Natural Acres Program and Springfield Township provide the main funds for the purchase of this beautiful wooded property. There are plans to create a loop trail through this property in 2019. Article about Pursell Property |
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This is an overview of the Jere Knight trails and Pursell loop which combined are 2.8 miles long start to finish:
The trail head can be found by using the address: 2864 Slifer Valley Road, Riegelsville, PA. It is about half way between Rte 212 and Rte 412. If there is someone else parked at the trail head you can park along Walnut Lane just to the East of the trail head.
This is the start of the trail on Slifer Valley Road. The parking is just East of this on the side of Walnut Lane. Climb up the ravine thirty feet to see the Trail head off to the left. The trail is marked with orange ribbons.
After you climb up from the road head left (East). This is the start of the trail as it heads East overlooking a flowing stream. There are orange trail markers. At the 1st fork bear left towards a Fallen tree.
The trail runs under a large fallen tree and down to this stream that feeds into Cooks Creek.
The trail continues up following the stream There is a log bench to rest up and view the stream.
Continue East following the stream. Just below these Sycamore roots is a deeper stream hole.
The trail winds along the stream before turning right up the hillside.
This is the upper South East corner of the trail with a view of the adjoining neighbors field. Please don't enter neighbors field.
This is the upper West section of the same field. OK to look but not to walk
This is the upper West section of the same field. OK to look but not to walk
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Some of the old growth trees before the leaves return. |
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This is the South West corner of the preserve meadow. The trail winds past all four corners of the meadow. This is the South West corner of the preserve meadow. There's a swing hanging from this large Oak tree.
Trail Head moving West - The trail winds through a sassafras tree grove.
After passing through this tight grove of sassafras trees, the trail touches the West corner of the property with an overlook of the farm below at the corner of Hickory and Slifer Valley.
This is the view of the meadow from the North West Corner before heading down. There is one more side loop trail you can take to visit the North East corner of the meadow before heading down.
These are historical aerial photos of the Fuller preserve:
Note the old growth forest in major portions of the Preserve back in 1938. Now look at the Springfield township photo from 1938. There is hardly any old growth forests in the entire township. Can you find the Fuller Preserve? It is 2/3 of the way up on the far right side. The open fields make it visible versus the old growth.
Next photo is 1958
In 1938, the open field on the left is seen in 1958 re-establishing forest.
Thirteen years later, in 1971, the field on the left is almost re-forested. The field on the right, which is now forest again, was still open 45-plus years ago. |
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If you have any questions please feel free to call Bill
If you enjoyed the trail photos, |
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Jere Knight Trail
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The Fuller Preserve happened in 1993 when our neighbors Peter & Joan Fuller donated 64 acres to Heritage Conservancy. You can visit Heritage Conservancy website to learn more about all of their great work to preserve land in Bucks County or see a map of conserved land that is part of our
Cooks Creek Watershed.
PDF Map of Trail Peter & Joan created the Jere Knight hiking trail back in 1981 to be used as part of a Cooks Creek Nature Center. The trail was dedicated to Jere Knight because Jere was a key person who helped get Cooks Creek protected as well as championing numerous other environmental issues. She edited the original Lassie book that her husband, Eric Knight, wrote in 1940 as well as authoring several other works. Check out a short bio of this amazing woman Jere Knight The trail has been re-opened and expanded into a 2.0 mile loop that wonders through the woods, passes besides a Cooks Creek tributary stream and climbs up past a lovely gorge and then to an overlook of a large neighbors field, through some old growth forest then across to an overlook of a farm on Slifer Valley Road and then through the woods, across the center field and back to the start of the trail head. Presently there are wooden sign posts marking any splits in the trail. The trail wanders through the woods and you will likely see deer, an occasional fox, lots of different birds, a red tail hawk overhead scouring the fields for some diner and incredible assortment of trees, ferns, mushrooms and plants. In the center of the trail is a Chestnut Tree orchard that is being used to develop blight resistant chestnut trees. The total hike takes less than an hour at a leisurely pace. As you climb up the hill the trail heads off to the left. As you follow the stream bed take the 1st fork to the left to go under a fallen tree and down to the stream. Continue along the stream and the trail heads back up to the main trail loop. Recently a 2nd property that adjoins the Fuller Preserve was acquired by Heritage that was purchased from Doris Pursell in honor of her late husband Jerry Pursell. Bucks County Natural Acres Program and Springfield Township provide the main funds for the purchase of this beautiful wooded property. Presently there are no trails or access to this property. |
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This is an overview of the trail loop which is 1.8 miles long start to finish:
The trail head can be found by using the address: 2864 Slifer Valley Road, Riegelsville, PA. It is about half way between Rte 212 and Rte 412. If there is someone else parked at the trail head you can park along Walnut Lane just to the East of the trail head.
This is the start of the trail on Slifer Valley Road. The parking is just East of this on the side of Walnut Lane. Climb up the ravine thirty feet to see the Trail head off to the left. The trail is marked with orange ribbons.
After you climb up from the road head left (East). This is the start of the trail as it heads East overlooking a flowing stream. There are orange trail markers. At the 1st fork bear left towards a Fallen tree.
The trail runs under a large fallen tree and down to this stream that feeds into Cooks Creek.
The trail continues up following the stream There is a log bench to rest up and view the stream.
Continue East following the stream. Just below these Sycamore roots is a deeper stream hole.
The trail winds along the stream before turning right up the hillside.
This is the upper South East corner of the trail with a view of the adjoining neighbors field. Please don't enter neighbors field.
This is the upper West section of the same field. OK to look but not to walk
This is the upper West section of the same field. OK to look but not to walk.
Some of the old growth trees before the leaves return.
This is the South West corner of the preserve meadow. The trail winds past all four corners of the meadow. This is the South West corner of the preserve meadow. There's a swing hanging from this large Oak tree.
Trail Head moving West - The trail winds through a sassafras tree grove.
After passing through this tight grove of sassafras trees, the trail touches the West corner of the property with an overlook of the farm below at the corner of Hickory and Slifer Valley.
This is the view of the meadow from the North West Corner before heading down. There is one more side loop trail you can take to visit the North East corner of the meadow before heading down.
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These are historical aerial photos from 1938 until 1971 of the Fuller Preserve:
Note the old growth forest in major portions of the Preserve back in 1938.
Note the old growth forest in major portions of the Preserve back in 1938. Now look at the Springfield township photo from 1938. There is hardly any old growth forests in the entire township. Can you find the Fuller Preserve? It is 2/3 of the way up on the far right side. The open fields make it visible versus the old growth.
Next photo is 1958
The open field in 1938 on the left is now re-establishing forest 20
years latter.
Thirteen years later in 1971 the field on the left is almost re-forested. The field on the right which is now forest again was still open 45 plus years ago. |
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If you have any questions please feel free to call Bill
If you enjoyed the trail photos, |
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Radon mitigation call Integra Environmental 610 346-8004 |
