Nature Preserves
In addition to our four staffed sites, these nature preserves and natural areas are carefully managed to experience the wild beauty throughout the state and neighboring southeastern Pennsylvania. Each site is carefully managed for biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and environmental education. Explore the forests, fields, wetlands, and trails that make Delaware’s ecosystems so unique. Many of these sites are managed in collaboration with one or more local partners.
Bucktoe Creek Preserve is a 297-acre privately-owned natural area near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. While not open to the public, visitors can join educational programs hosted by Delaware Nature Society and other partners.
This preserve is also a premier birding destination, with bird banding,a Motus tower, and regular bird walks.
Address: 432 Sharp Road, Avondale, PA 19311
Contact: 302-239-2334
Grounds Hours: Not open to the public
Entry Fees: Register for Programs to Visit
Amenities: Hiking, Scenic Views
Flint Woods Preserve, located in Wilmington, Delaware, is managed for biodiversity and long-term ecological health. The area provides critical woodland habitat for many nesting birds such as Louisiana Water Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, and Wood Thrush and plants such as showy orchid and a wide diversity of ferns.Though not open to the public, it hosts guided programs focused on forest ecology, natural history, and birding.
Address: 350 Twaddell Mill Road, Wilmington, DE 19807
Contact: 302-239-2334
Grounds Hours: Not open to the public
Entry Fees: Register for Programs to Visit
Amenities: Hiking, Picnic Area, Scenic Views
Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of an Atlantic white cedar swamp. Isaacs Tract is part of the Milford Millponds Nature Preserve, home to red maples, black gum, and loblolly pine. A short boardwalk lets you explore without getting wet, while birdwatchers may spot Red-shouldered Hawks, Wood Ducks, and Prothonotary Warblers.
Address: Lindale Road, Milford, DE 19960
Contact: 302-239-2334
Grounds Hours: Open dawn to dusk
Entry Fees: Free
Amenities: Hiking, Kayak/Canoeing, Pet-Friendly (leashed), Scenic Views
Parking: Available at the nearby Abbott’s Mill Nature Center Visitor Center
Part of the Milford Millponds Nature Preserve, Isaacs-Greene Preserve protects palustrine woodlands and wetlands along the Johnston Branch of the Mispillion River. Visitors can explore trails through red maple, black gum, and Atlantic white cedar forests, with an understory of holly and winterberry. Wildlife includes Wood Ducks, Barred Owls, and American Beavers.
Address: Appels Road, Milford, DE 19960
Contact: 302-239-2334
Grounds Hours: Not open to the public
Entry Fees: Register for Programs to Visit
Amenities: Hiking, Kayak/Canoeing, Scenic Views
Marvel Saltmarsh Preserve spans over 100 acres of tidal wetlands west of Slaughter Beach. It’s a haven for shorebirds, crabs, and salt marsh species like Clapper Rails and Marsh Wrens. The accessible Marvel Scenic Byway Boardwalk allows visitors to experience the salt marsh up close and is a popular destination for walking, cycling, and nature study.
Address: Marvel Drive, Slaughter Beach, DE 19963
Contact: 302-239-2334
Grounds Hours: Open dawn to dusk
Entry Fees: Free
Amenities: Accessible Trails, Bike Fix-it Station, Scenic Views
Discover this beautiful 860-acre New Castle County-owned park that Delaware Nature Society manages to benefit biodiversity Over 50,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted since 1991, improving wildlife habitat and water quality. The park features 10 miles of trails for hiking, birding, and mountain biking, connecting with White Clay Creek State Park.
Address: Possum Hollow Road, Newark, DE 19711
Contact: 302-239-2334
Grounds Hours: Open dawn to dusk
Entry Fees: Free
Amenities: Drop-in Programs, Hiking, Pet-Friendly (leashed), Picnic Area, Scenic Views