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You are here: Home / Stories / Preserving the Character of York County

Preserving the Character of York County

05/07/2015

“We know that 100 years from now future owners of our property will look out over these preserved lands and see the same landscape and feel the same pride we do today.”

Authors: John & Susan Linton
Location: York County
Land Trust: Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County

For years we contemplated placing an easement to permanently preserve our property. But each time we discussed the option, we faced too many difficult decisions.

“Permanent” is a long time. Many choices can come along well beyond our lifetimes: our children might want to build another home on the property or reap the benefits of subdividing and selling. Beyond family issues and lost income potential, a more pressing concern is the impact our decision would have on adjacent property owners.

Our land is situated minutes from a major interstate and surrounded by several thousand acres of potentially developable land. Ultimately we could become a tiny island of preserved property surrounded by residential communities, in conflict with everything we sought to accomplish. This issue was the most difficult for us to overcome.

Because of these challenges, we decided at the time to set aside the idea of preservation. Coincidentally, it was during this time, John was asked to serve on the board of directors for the Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County. Board President Jack Shorb presented a new conservation strategy: contact landowners of surrounding preserved properties and encourage them to preserve their land, thereby creating large areas of farm and natural lands. This strategy blended well with the preservation of our land and a way of life for future generations.

With several contiguous landowners placing easements on their lands, we approached Jackie Kramer and found that we could design an easement to suit our property and our goals as landowners. We decided that the timing was right to protect our property and the part it played in York County’s character.

Today we are very proud of our decision; our land is now a part of over 1,000 acres of preserved contiguous lands and the Farm & Natural Lands Trust will continue to build upon this block of preserved land.

We know that 100 years from now future owners of our property will look out over these preserved lands and see the same landscape and feel the same pride we do today.

In Their Own Words

  • A Gift to the Community
  • A Permanent Agreement Between Us and Nature
  • A Place in the Country
  • A Quiet Satisfaction
  • An Amazing Feeling
  • Essentially as We Found It
  • Five Hills Farm
  • For Future Generations 
to Enjoy
  • Forever Holding on to Holden Farm
  • Greg’s Woods
  • Keeping Bedminster Green
  • Kipp’s Fen
  • Preserve Our Farms
  • Preserving the Character of York County
  • Saving Our Family Lands
  • Solebury Township Landowners
  • The Value of Land Conservation
  • There Was Really No Other Choice

People & Projects

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    Natural Lands announced on October 26, 2020 the permanent protection of nearly 10 acres of land along the fast-developing Route …Read More »
  • Unlikely Partners BalletX and Natural Lands Make Nature Center Stage

    Unlikely Partners BalletX and Natural Lands Make Nature Center Stage

    What does it look like when the regions oldest and largest land conservation organization and Philadelphia’s Premier Contemporary Ballet Company …Read More »
  • Heritage Conservancy Sets Pioneering Example of Partnership and Preservation with Manoff Market Gardens

    Heritage Conservancy Sets Pioneering Example of Partnership and Preservation with Manoff Market Gardens

    Freda R. Savana for Heritage Conservancy It could be said that Gary and Amy Manoff have farming in their blood. …Read More »
  • Berks Nature Closes on a Conservation Easement of Olivet Blue Mountain Camp

    Berks Nature Closes on a Conservation Easement of Olivet Blue Mountain Camp

    On September 30th, 2020, Berks Nature closed on a conservation easement project in the Schuylkill River Watershed, Kittatinny Ridge and …Read More »
  • Fifteen More Acres Protected Forever!

    Fifteen More Acres Protected Forever!

      Article originally published in September 2020 by Willistown Conservation Trust. The final conservation chapter to the 15-acre Stonehedge Farm …Read More »
View more posts >>
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  • Conservation Easement Assistance Program
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Thank you to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for supporting the Association’s conservation efforts.

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