Valley Talks Are Back This Spring at Valley Green Inn
Valley Green Bank, a Division of Univest Bank and Trust Co., sponsors talks on forest management and the benefits of ecosystems.
Friends of the Wissahickon is hosting two Valley Talks this spring that explore various aspects of conservation and benefits of public parks. Click here to register for either of these talks.
The first lecture will take place on Tuesday, April 5 and will feature a conversation with Dr. William Schuster, executive director of the Black Rock Forest Consortium in Cornwall, N.Y. Schuster will talk about the successful research, education and conservation efforts at the 4,000-acre Black Rock Forest, located an hour north of New York City. Schuster will talk about the successes and challenges of managing the park, from over-abundant deer populations to public use.
On Thursday, May 19, landscape architect Claudia West will talk about the benefits of ecosystems, particularly in urban parks and gardens and how they contribute to biodiversity and habitat. She will discuss the ecosystems of the Wissahickon Valley Park.
Dr. William Schuster is executive director of the Black Rock Forest Consortium in Cornwall, N.Y. and has authored or co-authored nearly 100 publications. He has a B.A. in biology from Columbia University, an M.S. in forest ecology from Penn State University, and a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Colorado. Dr. Schuster completed his postdoctoral research at the University of Utah. His primary interests are in ecology, ecosystem management and environmental change.
Claudia West is the ecological sales manager at North Creek Nurseries in Landenberg, Pa. She holds an M.A. in landscape architecture and regional planning from the Technical University of Munich, Germany. West works closely with ecological design and restoration professionals. Her work is centered on the development of stable, layered planting designs and the reintroduction of American native plants back into the landscape. She is the co-author with Thomas Rainer of Planting in a Post-Wild World (Timber Press, 2015).
The talks are sponsored by Valley Green Bank and are free and open to the public. Spaces are limited, registration is recommended. A complimentary wine and cheese reception is offered at the talks. Valley Green Inn is located on Forbidden Drive in Wissahickon Valley Park. Contact Sarah Marley at marley@fow.org or 215-247-0417 x109 for more information.
About the Sponsor
Valley Green Bank, a division of Univest Bank and Trust Co., has three branches in Philadelphia located in Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill and South Philadelphia. A fourth branch in the Fairmount neighborhood will open early June. It also has commercial loan offices in Center City Philadelphia and Radnor, Pa. As a division of Univest, the bank’s footprint has expanded to include 31 financial centers, 3 commercial loan offices and 40 ATM locations. In addition to Valley Green Bank’s range of deposit and credit products for business, professional, and individual customers, Univest offers an expanded range of financial solutions including mortgages, trust, wealth management, insurance, and investments. Valley Green Bank is a member of FDIC.