Delaware Nature Society

Ashland Nature Center

NOTICE: Beginning in March, Barley Mill Road will be closed at the Ashland Covered Bridge for approximately 80 calendar days to rehab the wood substructure. ÊThis closure is part of the overall rehabilitation of the covered bridge. ÊOn the map below, Ashland Covered Bridge is indicated by a red dot. The yellow areas indicate suggested detours that should be used until bridge repairs are completed.

To reach Ashland Nature Center from Creek Road (Route 82) during this time: Follow Creek Road to Sharpless Road*. Stay on Sharpless to Old Wilmington Road and go left. Follow Old Wilmington to the 4-way stop at Brackenville Road and make a left. Stay on Brackenville to the 3-way stop at Barley Mill. Entrance to Ashland Nature Center is visible on the left.

* Another option is to follow Creek Road to Hockessin-Yorklyn Road. Stay on Hockessin-Yorklyn to Old Wilmington Road and go left. Follow directions above from Old Wilmington.

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Ashland Nature Center is located at the intersection of Brackenville & Barley Mill Roads near Hockessin, Del. The Center is located approximately nine miles northwest of Wilmington and eleven miles northwest of Newark, Del.; and five miles south of Kennett Square, PA.

From 1-95, take Exit 5 (Route 141, Newport) and proceed North on Route 141 (Centre Rd.) At Route 48 (Lancaster Pike), turn left and travel 4.6 miles towards Hockessin. Route 48 merges and becomes Route 41. At the bottom of the hill, turn right at the traffic light onto Brackenville Road. You will come to a 4-way stop where Old Wilmington Road intersects; proceed straight. At the next stop sign, you will see the Ashland Nature Center and its driveway on the left-hand side. (If you go through the Covered Bridge, you have gone too far!) The distance from Route 41 is about 2 miles.

If traveling south from Pennsylvania, one option is to travel on U.S. Route I and turn onto Route 52 South near Chadds Ford. Follow Route 52 South past Winterthur Museum. Shortly after passing the Delaware Museum of Natural History, you will come to a traffic light where Route 82 intersects. Turn right onto Route 82 North, about 4 miles. Be prepared to turn onto Barley Mill Road just after spotting a railroad bridge. Turn left and go through the Covered Bridge. Our driveway is on the right.

Another option is to travel Route 41 through Hockessin. At the bottom of the next hill, turn left at the traffic light onto Brackenville Road. You will come to a 4-way stop where Old Wilmington Road intersects; proceed straight. At next stop sign, you will see the Ashland Nature Center and its driveway on the left-hand side. (If you go through the Covered Bridge, you have gone too far!) The distance from Rte. 41 is about 2 miles.