This post was written by Sally Zaino of Manada Conservancy about the first summer on one of Manada's newest preserves. By the time you read this, the mountain laurel will be finished blooming. But as of this writing, it is decorating our woodlands with its pale pink flowers, convoluted stems, and glossy leaves. It’s blooming on the rocky slopes of our Appalachians. It is read more
Conservation Projects
17
July
15
July
French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust Preserves Family Farm
French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust recently permanently preserved the Thompson Farm in Charlestown Township, Chester County. In 1960, Jim and Mary Jo Thompson bought 450 acres, and in July, 2019 the Thompsons placed an easement on 23 acres of the property to ensure its protection forever. The property borders another preserved property and encompasses hillsides read more
3
July
Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy Preserves Avis Canoe Launch
Sometimes you have to buy a property people think is already public and actually make it public. Thanks to support from Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy (NPC) members and extra help from George and Shirley Durrwachter, that just happened. For years, people have used a property on the Avis side of the Route 150 bridge over Pine Creek to get on and off the creek in read more
2
July
Lebanon Valley Conservancy Preserves 172 Acres of Farmland
The Lebanon Valley Conservancy (TLVC) has announced the preservation of 172 acres of land in the Lebanon Valley, located along the Kittatinny Ridge. This valuable agricultural land has been preserved through a grant of conservation easement, in partnership with the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation. The preserved land includes 71.75 acres of the Nye farm and just over 100 read more
25
June
Foundation for Sustainable Forests Protects 436 Acres in Warren County
The Foundation for Sustainable Forests recently conserved 436 acres of working woodlands in Warren County’s Southwest and Eldred townships. The conserved lands are comprised of three parcels within the Caldwell Creek watershed, a priority area of conservation for FSF. In 2017, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Community Conservation read more
19
June
FCVC Completes New Boat Launch on Conserved Property
The French Creek Valley Conservancy (FCVC) recently completed the installation of a new boat launch along French Creek on Wadsworth Avenue in Meadville. The Joe Cat Launch, named for Joe Catalano, is the result of a multiyear effort by the Catalano family to raise funds to honor the family patriarch. Catalano grew up in the Fifth Ward and was a lover of French Creek, read more
14
June
Ag Land Preservation Board Preserves 47 More Farms, Bringing Total to 5,540
On June 13, Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board announced the preservation of 47 farms across Pennsylvania. “Preserving farmland is a team effort among diverse groups united in our effort to spare the state’s best agricultural soils from development,” said Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Together we help farmers to take an important read more
12
June
Delaware Highlands Conservancy to Preserve Foster Hill Farm
Foster Hill Farm, the former Milford home of local philanthropist and business owner Dick Snyder, has been bequeathed to the Delaware Highlands Conservancy (DHC). The farm will soon be transferred to the Conservancy and will be placed under conservation easement. In his typical altruistic spirit, Mr. Snyder made the Conservancy the beneficiary of Foster Hill Farm knowing that read more
3
June
LCAC Preserves 142-Acre Farm Near Gettysburg Battlefield
Ask Barb Wolf about farming, and she goes directly to the heart of the matter: “It’s what we do, and who we are.” The Wolf family has been farming their 142 acres in Cumberland Township for 98 years, and three generations. Phil and Barb are full-time farmers, and they can’t imagine a future in which their hay and wheat fields are paved over to make room for a housing read more
6
May
Land Conservancy of Adams County Preserves 17 Acres of Woodland
The Land Conservancy of Adams County's (LCAC) most recent acquisition preserved 17 acres of woodland in Huntington Township, but is part of a much larger project. The wooded easement donated to LCAC by the Sauble and Weaver families is surrounded on both sides by farmland that was simultaneously preserved through the Adams County Farmland Preservation Program. The county's read more
6
May
Wildlands Adds 35 Acres to Thomas Darling Preserve
At the end of April, Wildlands Conservancy acquired an additional 35-acre parcel of land in Tobyhanna Township that has expanded the organization's Thomas Darling Pocono Preserve to over 1,400 acres. The recent acquisition adjoins the 72-acre property Wildlands protected in 2017, which tied together neighboring existing natural areas and helped advance planned public access to read more
26
April
Countryside Conservancy Introduces White Rock Farm Preserve
Countryside Conservancy is thrilled to introduce the White Rock Farm Preserve, the Conservancy's newest and—at 107 acres—largest preserve to date. Located in Dimock Township, it's also the Conservancy's first preserve in Susquehanna County. The Conservancy owns and manages an additional 510 acres in Lackawanna and Wyoming counties, the majority of which is open to the public read more
23
April
Local Nature Writer, Family Donate Conservation Easement on 648 Acres to WPC
The land described by nature writer Marcia Bonta in her books is now permanently protected, thanks to the donation of a conservation easement to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy on her family’s 648-acre property in southcentral Pennsylvania. This is among the largest conservation easement donations in the Conservancy’s 86-year history. For nearly 50 years, Bonta and her read more
13
April
WPC Adds Land to Bear Run Reserve
In early April, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced the purchase of four acres in Stewart Township, Fayette County that are now part of the Conservancy’s 5,119-acre Bear Run Nature Reserve. The four-acre area is located across from the main entrance to Fallingwater, includes more than 600 feet of frontage along Route 381, and is visible to all read more
10
April
Tinicum Conservancy Helps Preserve 107-Acre Property
On April 9, Bridgeton Township—in partnership with the Tinicum Conservancy—completed the purchase of a 107-acre tract near the Delaware Canal and within walking distance of the newly established Pennsylvania Highlands Trail. A former quarry, the site is framed by the dramatic and rugged palisades to the west and the Delaware River bottomlands to the east. Abandoned for more read more
