Long ago, this area was completely forested but it was clear-cut for agricultural uses, namely corn and other staple crops. But, this area was bought by an early conservation group that was concerned by the dumping polluting the Brandywine Creek. This group then merged with a group protecting the neighboring Red Clay Creek Watershed and the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance was formed. Today this area is frequented by dog walkers, horse riders (with large steeple chases held relatively often), cross-country skiers, an environmental education center, and a nature-based summer camp (with which I am employed as a counselor in the summers). The property has a very long history with Quaker farmers with a barn and silo dating back to the early 1800s, a spring house from the Revolutionary War period, and a Penn Oak that was growing at the time William Penn settled Pennsylvania in 1681. Sadly, this behemoth fell over in 2016 at more than 25 feet around and about 150 feet tall.
http://www.dailylocal.com/general-news/20160707/giant-penn-oak-dies-in-pocopson
