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What is there to see and do at Briar Bush?

Briar Bush is a rich oasis in the middle of suburban Abington. Our 12.5 acres feature over a mile of trails winding through a mixed deciduous/coniferous forest. Inside the Museum and out on the trails, nature can be found at any time of the year.

Dede Long Nature Museum

Inside the museum, natural history murals, taxidermy and artifacts, touch tables, live animals and changing interactive exhibits enable visitors of all ages to make new discoveries. The Discovery Den is a perfect place for small children and their parents to play (requested $1/child donation) and the Reading Hollow has dozens of books for kids of all ages.

This winter, one exhibit highlights the hibernating habits of native species and features a giant cross-section of earth and crawl-through tunnels for kids. Stop in to learn how your favorite animal spends the chilly winter months. This exhibit has been graciously supported by Joseph D. Fecher, VMD and his staff in memory of Bernadette Fecher and her therapy dog, Winnie.

Also, local artist Gary Undercuffler is exhibiting his sketches of nature in the Treetops Art Gallery. Sculpture by Gina Michaels is still out in the garden near the main entrance.
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Trails

Our trails are open every day from dawn to dusk. Over a mile of trails wind their way through Briar Bush's 12.5 acres of land. They are lined with thick logs and mulched for easy walking. Benches along the trails provide places to take a break and listen to the peaceful sounds of nature all around you.

View a printable trail map

Trail head

Butterfly House (Seasonal: June-October)

Thanks to generous funding from the Alsplundh Foundation, Abington Township, Friends of Briar Bush and Think Green LLC, the Briar Bush Butterfly House opened in June 2009. Step inside to view the complete life cycle of Painted Lady and Monarch butterflies and learn about their fascinating body structure.

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Griscom Bird Observatory

Standing on the site of the original home of Florence and Everett Griscom, this cozy cottage remains a peaceful place to relax and view nature. Take a seat in one of our comfortable rocking chairs or benches which look out onto a complete bird habitat. A large diorama displays animal activity throughout the seasons. Handicap accessible bathroom.

Bird observatory

Natural Playscape

The word playscape is a combination of the words play and landscape. The idea is that the environment in and of itself has an extremely high play value. Our Nature Playscape takes components in our environment that naturally hone physical skills (like balancing logs, tree stumps and boulders) and organizes them into a reliable, low cost and experiential "play area" aimed at the developmental needs of children. The Playscape is open every day from dawn to dusk. Parent supervision is recommended.

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Pond

In order to provide vital fresh water to the plants and animals living at Briar Bush, a pond was built in the late 1970's using Abington Township funds. The windmill looking over the pond, built in 1979 thanks to a generous donation from Hank and Barbara Haines, pumps water from an underground well into the pond, providing with fresh water even when rain is scarce. The pond is an ecosystem within itself, supporting a variety of plant and animal species.

Kids at Pond