The Barbara Rich Preserve at Little Woods
Creek Road, north side, near Laurel Creek Boulevard
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Fronting on the Rancocas Creek, this 11-acre mature beech woods is one of the most beautiful spots in Moorestown. The loop trail, blazed and maintained by STEM Natural Area Care volunteers, provides unexpected views. It is tempting to sit and linger on convenient fallen logs at the top of the hill overlooking the Rancocas Creek and enjoy the decidedly non-suburban environment. Some lucky visitors may glimpse one of the local bald eagles foraging for food. Access is by means of a path from Creek Road into the woods just west of the old landfill, now a composting center.
The acquisition of this property, starting in 1989, occurred as a by-product of the Laurel Creek development and from a series of unpredictable but fortuitous events. The New Jersey Conservation Foundation holds a conservation easement on the property and oversees the conservation restrictions on it. |
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A Note From the President Joseph Ponessa's Desk (Spring, 2019)
Little Woods, that great open space park on Creek Road, stretching to the Rancocas, and providing beautiful overlooks, is in for a name change. The current name honors Dr. Silas Little, onetime owner of that tract. He was an environmentalist, silviculturalist, and researcher. The property was sold to developers, who after some years, donated it to Moorestown in the late 1990’s.
In December of last year, Town Council approved a motion to rename Little Woods in honor of Barbara Rich. Barb is a founding member of STEM, a tireless worker for open space, and a recognized expert, at both local and statewide levels, on open space environmental issues. She is also a founding member of the Rancocas Conservancy and was recently recognized as “Environmentalist of the Year” by the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC).
The new name will be “The Barbara Rich Preserve at Little Woods.” This designation, which was approved at the February 25 meeting of Town Council, will now become official pending the resolution of some procedural issues. STEM is proud and pleased to see this honor bestowed on someone who has worked so diligently over the years, and continues to work for the preservation and promotion of open space in Moorestown.