More than 77 acres of vital acreage for migratory birds in northern Berks County is now permanently protected from development, thanks to a partnership between Berks Nature, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, The Conservation Fund, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Berks Nature helped to secure the grant funds from The Conservation Fund, which allowed Hawk Mountain Sanctuary to read more
Conservation Projects
2
January
2
January
WPC Protects 281-Acre Addition to Laurel Ridge State Park
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy recently protected nearly 300 acres in Somerset and Fayette counties near the summit of Laurel Ridge and many popular Laurel Highlands outdoor recreational destinations. The land will be transferred to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of State Parks as an addition to Laurel Ridge State Park next year. This read more
21
December
Bryn Coed Preserve Now Open to Public
Just a year-and-a-half ago, Natural Lands purchased a 1,505-acre property in northern Chester Springs known as Bryn Coed Farms, one of the largest remaining unprotected swaths of land in the region. Now, the Bryn Coed Preserve is open to the public. Partners at the state, county, and municipal levels, as well as the William Penn Foundation, provided financial support for the read more
17
December
WPC Adds 52 Acres to Toms Run Nature Reserve
On December 17, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s Toms Run Nature Reserve in Kilbuck Township expanded by 52 acres to a total of 369 acres, thanks to a newly protected property near the reserve. The addition protects a large forested slope above Toms Run, a tributary to the Ohio River, and keeps the forest intact along the road leading from Route 65 to the reserve’s read more
3
December
PHLT Protects 70 Acres
Pocono Heritage Land Trust is proud to announce its latest acquisition of conserved land in Monroe County: 70 acres in Hamilton Township, named the Pomeroy McMichaels Creek Nature Preserve. Named for the land’s previous owners, as well as the creek that traverses it, this property marks PHLT's eighth Nature Preserve designated for public use. The natural resources, scenic read more
28
November
WPC Protects Land in Loyalhanna Creek Watershed
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced on November 19 the acquisition of 3.3 acres in Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County, along the scenic Route 30 corridor between the Loyalhanna Gorge and Ligonier. The conservation of this property is a continuation of ongoing efforts by the Conservancy and other partners to enhance the scenic character of the Route 30 read more
21
November
Stoneleigh Saved
Thanks to a staggering groundswell of support—consisting of vocal community members, township officials, members of the Pennsylvania legislature, the Lower Merion Conservancy, and many others—Natural Lands' Stoneleigh: A Natural Garden is no longer at risk of being developed. This past spring, the Lower Merion School Board announced it had targeted the 42-acre Villanova read more
2
November
Heritage Conservancy Preserves 76 Acres in Quakertown Swamp
Heritage Conservancy is happy to announce that the Herrmann property, a 76-acre property located along Rich Hill Road in the heart of the Quakertown Swamp in Richland Township, is now preserved in perpetuity. This preservation success was 15 years in the making, and its completion means that a vital keystone piece of the Quakertown Swamp is now protected. Considered a high read more
1
November
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Protects 35 Acres
An additional mile of forested frontage along the Casselman River across from the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) in Somerset County is now protected and open to the public, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced on October 31. This newly protected 35-acre property is located in Lower Turkeyfoot Township, approximately three miles east of Confluence on the Casselman read more
29
October
Lancaster Farmland Trust Preserves 500th Farm
Thirty years and 500 farms. Not a bad track record for an organization once described by a Wall Street Journal writer as “a not-for-profit organization with a tiny staff and a shoestring budget.” Lancaster Farmland Trust has preserved the beautiful, productive farmland of Lancaster County for thirty years. But it’s not the years in their life, it’s the life in their years read more
25
October
Willistown Conservation Trust Preserves 10 Acres
Another 10 acres of land are now permanently protected from development, thanks to the generosity and foresight of the Rawson family, which donated a conservation easement to Willistown Conservation Trust on October 22. This is the second easement the Rawsons have donated to the Trust, creating a total of 35 contiguous acres of Rawson family land in permanent protection. The read more
22
October
Willistown Conservation Trust Preserves Family Farm
The Willistown Conservation Trust added 10 more acres to its growing collection of permanently conserved lands when Kate and Ben Etherington granted a conservation easement to the Trust in mid-October. The conservation of their idyllic 10-acre Rooster Run Farm, located within the 316-acre Leopard Tract on Grubbs Mill Road, is a true gift to the community. “I grew up on this read more
18
October
Countryside Conservancy Opens Newest Preserve
On October 24, Countryside Conservancy opened its newest property acquisition to the public, the 82-acre Gardner Spencer Preserve in Benton Township, Lackawanna County, with a “rugged ribbon cutting”: attendees walked a half mile up a trail to the gathering location (guided hikes are available). This is the Conservancy's 13th preserve to date. Grant funding from the read more
18
October
Central Pennsylvania Conservancy Dedicates Letort Spring Garden Preserve
On Saturday, September 15th, over 80 people from Cumberland County and beyond gathered to celebrate Central Pennsylvania Conservancy's (CPC) acquisition of the Letort Spring Garden Preserve. The day included speeches, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours of the property, and a meal at the 1880s-era timberframe barn to celebrate the long-awaited acquisition. "The Letort is read more
16
October
WPC Acquires 193 Acres in Erie County
A new 193-acre conservation area is now open to the public in Erie County, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced on October 16. The South Branch French Creek Conservation Area in Union Township offers 1.5 miles of frontage along the South Branch of French Creek and provides access to a stocked trout stream for fishing and outdoor recreation. One of the Conservancy’s read more
