With support from a Five Star Urban Waters grant from FedEx and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, this spring Hollow Oak Land Trust teamed up with Tree Pittsburgh to plant 150 trees near the Nike missile site at Montour Woods Conservation Area. Hollow Oak members and corporate volunteers from FedEx Ground and Crown Castle cut back invasive species, such as bittersweet read more
Conservation Projects
6
June
1
June
Western PA Conservancy Protects 120 Acres in Centre County
On June 1, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) announced the purchase of a conservation easement to protect a 120-acre property along Brush Valley Road in Miles Township, Centre County. This easement was tailored to meet the private landowners’ needs and conservation goals, including ensuring that the property’s 60-acre forest remains intact. It also includes specific read more
24
May
Golf Course Turned Wildlife Refuge Opens to the Public
On May 20, the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge officially opened to the public. The Refuge, located on the site of a former golf course near Stroudsburg, is the result of a partnership between the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy. It is a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System. "Oh, I think it's great, just open space," said Stroud read more
17
May
Chestnut Hill Conservancy and Friends of the Wissahickon Preserve Stream Buffer
Chestnut Hill Conservancy, in partnership with Friends of the Wissahickon, acquired a conservation easement to preserve more than eight acres of open watercourse in Chestnut Hill. The conserved area is located near the headwaters of East Brook, which feeds Swan Pond at Morris Arboretum and is a tributary of Wissahickon Creek. This area is one of the very few remaining stream read more
10
May
Chestnut Hill Conservancy Preserves Historic Home
After 15 months of negotiation and discussion, Chestnut Hill Conservancy has finalized a preservation easement with Main Street Development Company on the property at 30 W. Chestnut Hill Avenue. Now, instead of five new townhomes on a cleared 1/3-acre site, this historic home will be renovated and a new twin will be constructed on its subdivided backyard. A groundswell of read more
20
April
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Adds 18 Acres to Natural Area
On April 19, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) announced the protection and addition of 18 acres of land in Sadsbury Township, Crawford County, to one of the most ecologically important forested areas in the region. These acres along Grieser Road are now part of the Conservancy's Tryon-Weber Woods Natural Area, which is a remote 108-acre reserve that is open to the read more
19
April
Natural Lands Trust Preserves Medal of Honor Grove
Natural Lands Trust, in partnership with Schuylkill Township, Chester County, and the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, announced the acquisition of a conservation easement on the Medal of Honor Grove. The Grove is the oldest living memorial dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients, and the easement ensures that it will be preserved in perpetuity. "We are delighted to read more
7
April
Heritage Conservancy Adds Property to Register of Historic Places
Heritage Conservancy announced the addition of the Philadelphia Glider Council airport to its Register of Historic Places. Located in Hilltown, the property is important for its use as the oldest continuously operated airport in Bucks County. The Philadelphia Glider Council (PGC) was founded in 1941, and has been at its present location since 1944. "Whatever cares or read more
6
March
Natural Lands Trust Repairing Iconic Sculpture at Stoneleigh
Natural Lands Trust is restoring the iconic wooden rabbits that watch over County Line Road from their perch at the edge of Stoneleigh. These charming carvings were created by local chainsaw artist Marty Long in 2002. Long was commissioned by John and Chara Haas, the former estate owners, to depict the Haas family as hares (Haas means “hare” in German) for this playful read more
2
March
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Protects 92 Acres Along French Creek
On February 28, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) announced the permanent protection of 92 acres near Cambridge Springs in Crawford County along French Creek, one of the most important waterways in the northeastern United States for the diversity of fish and mussels living in it. The property, which is now open to the public for hunting, hiking, birding, and read more
23
February
Lancaster County Conservancy Acquires 24 Acres
The Lancaster County Conservancy announced the acquisition of 24 acres of natural river buffer land in Conoy Township along the Susquehanna River, just south of the Falmouth boat launch. This acquisition is the result of a gift from the Pine Tree Conservation Society through Sally Jeffords. The property is bisected by the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail and provides read more
17
February
Tinicum Conservancy Protects Key Section of Rapp Creek
On February 17, Tinicum Conservancy announced that it has secured two new conservation easements to protect an additional two-thirds of a mile along Rapp Creek. The accomplishment was made possible by the generosity of two landowners: Jim Diamond of Nockamixon, and Michael and Paula Shamlee of Tinicum Township. In the 1960s it was Jim Diamond, then a professor of Agriculture read more
16
February
Nature Conservancy Acquires Kittatinny Ridge Property
On February 15, the Nature Conservancy announced the acquisition of a 353-acre parcel near Marysville in Perry County, located just minutes from the state capital in Harrisburg. This property will become the Conservancy's first nature preserve in central Pennsylvania along the Kittatinny Ridge. The Conservancy acquired the property with a grant from the Pennsylvania read more
15
February
Land Conservancy of Adams County Preserves 19.5 Acres
In December the Land Conservancy of Adams County finalized an agreement with an Oxford Township couple to preserve their 19.5-acre property from development. “I’ve been thinking about preserving this land for the last ten years,” said landowner Tom Colgan. “We live on a small tract of land, but it’s surrounded by houses. It’s a refuge for wildlife and we both love wildlife, read more
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January
Turkey Hill Dairy Helps Lancaster Farmland Trust Save Farm
As part of an innovative community partnership, Turkey Hill Dairy recently donated $42,500 to Lancaster Farmland Trust through its Preserve a Farm program. The program matched donations up to $42,500. Donations were made by fans on Turkey Hill's website. The Trust used the funds raised to preserve a 63-acre Amish farm in East Lampeter Township. The Preserve a Farm initiative read more
