St. Xavier in Unity to host fall walk, road ramble, input on nature preserve plans

Fall’s arrival comes with an invitation from local organizations to explore the scenery and look to the future at St. Xavier Nature Preserve in Unity.

On Oct. 2, the Westmoreland Land Trust, which owns the 248-acre preserve, will host the latest in a series of public meetings to solicit comments as the trust prepares a plan for improving access and developing amenities at the site.

Meeting times are 3 to 4:30 and 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Bellbrook, a former guesthouse dating from the Civil War era at 106 St. Xavier Road, located near the entrance to the preserve off Route 30 east.

“They’re informal and unstructured,” Betsy Aiken, Land Trust executive director, said of the meetings. “People can stop in and look at the plans and discuss them.”

Richard Rauso, a local landscape architect who is serving as a consultant, will be on hand to answer questions about preliminary plans. They call for expanding walking trails, parking areas and a farm stand pull-off along Route 30.

A former academy and convent operated by the Sisters of Mercy, the preserve now is open to the public for walking on its grounds.

Woodlands walk slated

A guided walk at the preserve is planned by the Westmoreland Woodlands Improvement Association from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Part of a statewide Walk in Penn’s Woods program, it’s the second fall walk the local woodlands group has held at the preserve, timed to take advantage of colorful autumn foliage.

“A highlight of the walk will be exploring the arboretum at the preserve, known as the Grove,” said Aiken. “There are trees that have been planted over the years that have become quite large and beautiful.

“Participants also will be able to see over 2,000 young trees that the Land Trust has planted on the property.”

Tree species in the Grove include oaks, walnuts, maples, cherries, hickories, conifers and northern pecans.

As for the expected display of leaves, “There should be reds and golds,” said Judith Gallagher, of the Westmoreland Woodlands group.

Participants should look for the “Walk in Penn’s Woods” sign when they arrive.

Ramble showcases scenery

St. Xavier also is the starting point for the latest in a series of annual road trips, or rambles, the Land Trust has designed to showcase some of the properties it has conserved as well as other local landscapes and points of interest.

“This is the fourth year for the ramble,” said Aiken. “After the first year, we switched to a format where we provide the route and people can make the drive whenever they want. We issue them in the fall so people can take full advantage of the fall colors.”

“From the Flanks of Chestnut Ridge to the Banks of Sewickley Creek” is the title of this fall’s ramble, which covers 34 miles and should take about an hour to complete.

Stops include: the “space acorn” statue in Kecksburg, recalling a famous UFO sighting; historic Mount Vernon Iron Furnace and Jacobs Creek Park, over the border in Fayette County; and West Overton Village, which offers exhibits exploring the East Huntingdon community’s past industries — mining, weaving and farming — and a revival of its heritage as a center of whiskey distilling.

The trip ends at the Sewickley Creek Wetlands, a 21-acre environmental education area near New Stanton with trails and an observation deck. The area was developed by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to replace wetlands that were affected by the construction of the Toll 66 Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass.

Copies of the free ramble tour booklet are available at local libraries and from the Westmoreland Conservation District and the Westmoreland County Bureau of Parks and Recreation. Guides to this year’s ramble and to previous ones can be downloaded at the Westmoreland Land Trust website: westmoreland-landtrust.org.

This story is updated to reflect the public meeting will occur on Oct. 2.