Natural Lands announced on April 8, 2020 the successful preservation of the 54-acre Castle Rock Farm that straddles Pocopson and West Bradford Townships, Chester County. The farm is adjacent to several other already-protected properties, adding to a growing greenway along West Branch Brandywine Creek. “My family has owned this property since 1957. We’ve fought to keep it read more
Conservation Projects
8
April
2
April
Manada Conservancy Preserves Property in Kittatinny Corridor
Pennsylvania Land Trust Association member, Manada Conservancy, announced in April 2020 that they successfully protected a property located in the Kittatinny Corridor in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County. Here’s Manada Conservancy's story as told by their stewardship director, Mark Vibbert. Forty years ago, a pair of landowners purchased a 30-acre homestead in Lower read more
25
March
Natural Lands Adds 82 Acres to Crow’s Nest Preserve
On March 23, 2020, Natural Lands announced that it has purchased an 82-acre wooded property adjacent to its Crow’s Nest Preserve in Warwick Township, Chester County. The addition brings the preserve’s size to 454 acres and provides a scenic buffer for a section of the Horse-shoe Trail, which traverses the property. The recently acquired parcel was known as the Warwick Woods read more
9
March
Wildlands Permanently Protects 27 Acres in the Lehigh Valley
In March 2020, Wildlands Conservancy announced the permanent protection of 27 acres, situated in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County. The recent acquisition will expand its Emmaus-based South Mountain Preserve to 402 acres. “South Mountain is the mountain that gave rise to our mission more than 40 years ago,” says Christopher Kocher, president of Wildlands. “Everyday read more
27
February
Robeson Township Farm Protected by Berks Nature Conservation Easement
In February 2020, Berks Nature closed on a conservation easement project in southern Berks. The Love family has protected about 80 acres of their family farm, located in Robeson Township along a tributary to Beaver Run, in the Hay Creek Watershed. The farm includes a mixed landscape of woodland, pasture, and sorghum and hay fields. The conservation easement protects read more
10
February
Allegheny Land Trust Protects Bethel Green
Local non-profit land conservation organization Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) announced today that it will finalize the acquisition of 40.5 acres of woodlands in Bethel Park before March 31, 2020. The permanent protection of this rare remaining green space along Route 88 near its intersection with Valley Drive has been ensured by ALT after working for almost a year in read more
6
February
Merrill W. Linn Land and Waterways Conservancy Preserves Meadow Lane Farm
Pennsylvania Land Trust Association member, Merrill Linn Land and Waterways Conservancy, successfully protected Meadow Lane Farm in Snyder County, preserving the farm forever. Here's their story in their own words. In 2018, representatives of the Merrill Linn Land and Waterways Conservancy in Lewisburg were invited by a landowner to have a look at her property for easement read more
3
February
PA Sea Grant & LERC Conserve 179.8 Acres of Elk Creek
On-going collaborative efforts to acquire a portion of the Gilmore Farm in Girard Township, Erie County, have been finalized, creating a new destination for anglers seeking a world-class steelhead fishing experience, and for outdoor enthusiasts seeking to explore a unique natural resource via foot-trails. Pennsylvania Sea Grant brought together partners in the fields of read more
3
February
Donated Conservation Easement to WPC Keeps Forested Area, Scenic Views Intact in the Ligonier Valley
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced today the permanent protection of a 22-acre property in Cook Township, Westmoreland County through a donated conservation easement from property owners Michael Blehar and Beth Evans. The Ligonier Valley property includes 1,000 feet of frontage on Fourmile Run, a tributary to Loyalhanna Creek – a popular 50-mile trout fishery read more
6
January
Heritage Conservancy Helps Preserve 55-Acre Farm
Working in partnership with Richland Township in Bucks County, Heritage Conservancy facilitated the preservation of 55 acres of land in the Quakertown area owned by Kathy and Lee Clymer. The Clymer Farm contains agricultural fields, pastures, a portion of the Tohickon Creek, forested areas, and a pond, and it is currently being utilized as an equestrian farm. Located read more
3
January
Lancaster Farmland Trust Preserves Two Farms
On January 3, staff from Lancaster Farmland Trust met with the Stoltzfoos family to sign paperwork and add the family's two farms—42 acres and 22 acres—to the growing list of preserved farms in Lancaster County. The Stoltzfoos homestead is found on the smaller property, bordered by their 42-acre farm to the north. The house and barns are home to the family, their small herd read more
20
December
Lancaster Farmland Trust Preserves 72-Acre Fisher Farm
Salisbury Township, along Lancaster County’s eastern border, is home to the newest preserved farm in the county. On December 20, staff from Lancaster Farmland Trust (LFT) met at the Fisher family farm to sign paperwork and add their 72-acre farm to the growing list of preserved farms in Lancaster County. Bisected by a small tributary to Pequea Creek, the Fisher farm is a read more
16
December
Lancaster Farmland Trust Preserves Two Family Farms
On December 16, staff from Lancaster Farmland Trust (LFT) met at the Stoltzfus family farm to sign paperwork and add their two farms—59 acres and 11 acres—to the growing list of preserved farms in Lancaster County. In quiet, picturesque southern Lancaster County, you’ll find these two farms along an unassuming country road. The larger farm is home to a small dairy herd, some read more
13
December
Lancaster Farmland Trust Preserves 57-Acre Farm
Martic Township, in the river hills of southern Lancaster County, is home to the newest preserved farm in the county. This afternoon, staff from Lancaster Farmland Trust (LFT) met at the Norton farm to sign paperwork and add their 57-acres to the growing list of preserved farms in Lancaster County. Nestled at the end of a long driveway, the farm is home to horses, read more
13
December
Pennsylvania Preserves 30 Farms, 2,763 Acres
On December 12, Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board safeguarded 2,763 additional acres on 30 farms in 16 counties through the state’s nation-leading farmland preservation program. The state board, in partnership with county boards, ended the year by preserving 210 farms (17,817 acres)–the highest number of farms in a decade. “This collaboration of state, read more
