Photos & Videos
Videos
Prominent Ecologist Calls for Preserving the Drew Forest
Dr. Douglas Tallamy, entomologist, wildlife ecologist, best-selling author of Nature’s Best Hope, and co-founder of the Homegrown National Park Movement, has released a special video that lauds the Drew Forest for its biodiversity and as “an urban forest of exceptional value.” He says, “It’s extremely important, that all parties come together to preserve the Drew Forest.”
Learn about the biodiversity oasis that is the Drew Forest Preserve, located on Drew University’s campus in Madison, NJ.
Biodiversity Oasis
Photos from the Forest illustrate The Peace of Wild Things, a poem by Wendell Berry that was set to music by composer Michael Conley. The Harmonium Coral Society, under the direction of Dr. Anne J. Matlack, performed this powerful piece as part of its Earthlings concert in June, 2023.
Videographer Paul Morgan used a drone to show what the Drew Forest looks like from a bird's perspective.
A Bird’s Eye View
The Legacy of Drew Forest by Bill Lynch, an independent filmmaker from Florham Park.
The Legacy of the Drew Forest
Dr. Sara Webb: A Forest Ecologist’s Perspective
The Drew Forest Preserve, the largest tract of mature native forest in Madison, has undergone a 12-year restoration led by Dr. Sara Webb, Drew University professor emeritus and a sought-after environmental speaker. In this video, Dr. Webb talks about the ravages of deer and invasive species, which result in the "empty forest syndrome" common to New Jersey forests.
At Drew, Dr. Webb leads a restoration project that began in 2010 with deer fencing. Hundreds of volunteers have removed invasive species and nurtured thousands of new plantings. In addition, other plant species and young trees naturally reestablished themselves once protected from deer and invasive plants. Visitors will find a remarkable understory of native plants and flowers that offers visible benefits to a broad web of insects, turtles, herons, hawks, and wildlife visible along the leafy trails.
The Forest is a living classroom for Drew students who share their campus with native wildlife like red foxes. This footage was provided to us by Drew student Jackie Melone, who is studying conservation biology and fox populations in the Forest!
Native Wildlife in the Forest
“The Peace of Wild Things”
The Drew Forest, with its glacial topography and old trees, plays a critical role in flood mitigation and aquifer recharge for the Buried Valley Aquifer, which supplies drinking water for many North Jersey communities. Learn more about aquifer recharge in the Forest.
Flood Mitigation and the Forest
Public funding is available to support a Forest purchase — but how does it work? Lydia Chambers, co-chair of Friends of the Drew Forest, explains the process at a community meeting in Madison, NJ. Read our FAQ for more information.
Conservation Sale 101
A tribute to Winter Wonderland, written by Christine Hepburn for Friends of the Drew Forest. It was performed at the Madison Borough council meeting, with guitar by David Thomson, a Drew University grad, on January 6, 2023.
Winter Wonderland at the Drew Forest
Video by Alex Parker-Magyar | Madison Eagle
Friends of the Drew Forest members Lydia Chambers, Marijane Lundt and Judy Kroll sing a Drew Forest-inspired carol to the tune of “The 12 Days of Christmas” at a Madison Borough Council meeting on December 13, 2022.
A Christmas Carol for the Forest
Support From Chatham Township
Chatham Township resident Joe Basralian speaks in favor of preserving the Drew Forest at a Chatham Township Committee meeting on February 8, 2022. The Chatham Township Committee unanimously passed a resolution in support of preserving the entire Drew Forest.
Yard Sign Mania on Glenwild Road
Drew University is often lovingly referred to as “The Forest,” with its 168-acre campus absolutely covered in some of Morris County’s oldest trees. Hear more about what makes the Drew Forest so special from former students and nearby residents.
What Does the Forest Mean to You?