Friends of Brandywine Farms is a public benefit organization protecting historic farmland, open spaces, and the Brandywine River network in Pennsylvania from high density residential and commercial development with a particular focus in Chester County.

We are a 100% volunteer not-for-profit organization that depends on donations to provide legal defense to communities and townships preserving their farmlands and assist in raising funds to acquire and conserve their lands.

Our first major initiative is to stop the Toll Brothers development of 119 acres of farmland at 500 Hibernia Road in West Brandywine Township. Toll Brothers proposes a 237 unit 55+ community in this environmentally sensitive piece of land surrounded by 2 rural roads. After the closing of the Brandywine Hospital in early 2022, 500 Hibernia is in the middle of a documented "Healthcare Desert", with the closest hospital over an hour away during periods of moderate to high traffic. More on this below.

500 Hibernia was originally a Lenni Lenape territory, along the east bank of the upper West Branch of the Brandywine Creek. William Penn assigned one mile in either direction to the Lenape in 1706. Old maps show an Indian Village at 500 Hibernia spanning both sides of the Creek. In 1714, 1820 acres of land encompassing the West Branch Brandywine Creek and 500 Hibernia was granted to George Claypoole, and 500 Hibernia was later acquired by Samual Downing, the namesake of Downingtown, in 1793.

Since the 1700's 500 Hibernia has remained prime farm land with an intricate network of wetlands (including a bog turtle habitat) connected to two streams that feed the Brandywine Creek, making it extremely difficult to develop without disturbing the habitat or the integrity of the tributaries to the Brandywine River water supply network.

In addition to the environmental, water supply, and Native American precence, Toll Brothers is exploiting a local ordinance allowing them to double the amount of homes on the property by building an age restricted community.

After the closing of the Brandywine Hospital, and due to the township's allowing this loophole to remain in its ordinance, there are now over 9 senior communities with over 2500 senior homes and living units within a 5 mile radius of 500 Hibernia. With the closest hospital located in West Chester, and hospitals, ALS, and EMS services already stretched dangerously thin, adding another such residence represents a serious risk to public health and safety.

Our effort to stop Toll Brothers is garnering county, state, and media interest. We are determined to set an example for other communities to follow. Your contribution will make a difference, both now, and in the future, as we fight to protect our most valuable natural resources from unscrupulous development and corporate exploitation.