Natural Lands announced on October 26, 2020 the permanent protection of nearly 10 acres of land along the fast-developing Route 202 corridor in Westtown Township, Chester County. Owned by the Church of the Loving Shepherd, the property was once the site of the 1777 Battle of Brandywine. Now preserved by a conservation easement held by Natural Lands, the land will never be read more
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October
26
October
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. For more than three decades, the couple has lovingly labored to create one of the area’s most bountiful farms in Solebury Township on land that they leased from Heritage Conservancy. Manoff Market Gardens on Comfort Road is rich with acres and acres of sour read more
2
October
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 Corridor, Hamburg Borough, Windsor Township. Berks Nature protected 109.28 acres of land owned by the Olivet Blue Mountain Camp. Known locally as the Blue Mountain, the Kittatinny Ridge stretches across the state of Pennsylvania. Berks Nature read more
10
September
Three New Guides
WeConservePA has published three new guides at ConservationTools.org. The content of each is briefly described below. Adverse Possession in Pennsylvania A long-time trespasser may gain ownership of land by using it with no documented challenge for 21 years. Landowners can avoid this threat with some good, basic practices. (link, 7 pages) Adding to Land Under Conservation read more
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September
Comments on Model Conservation Easement Changes Due Sep. 25
WeConservePA proposes two changes to the Model Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants. Send comments on these changes to aloza@weconservepa.org by 9/25/2020 to be considered in the finalization of any changes. WeConservePA proposes a new subsection under 8.09 “Guides to Interpretation”: (f) Interpret in Favor of Conservation Objectives. If any read more
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September
Heritage Conservancy Facilitates Preservation of Highly Visible, Nearly 100-acre Farm in Bedminster Township
Working in partnership with Bucks County and Bedminster Township, Heritage Conservancy, an accredited non-profit land conservation and historic preservation organization, facilitated the placement of a conservation easement on a 97-acre farm in Bedminster Township. Owned by the Blue Rock Investment Corporation, the property is located at the intersection of Routes 313 and 113 read more
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July
Permanent Protection for North Coventry Farm that is Home to 400-Year-Old “Penn Oak”
Natural Lands announced the preservation of Great Oak Farm, a 10-acre property in North Coventry Township, Chester County. The property includes meadows and forest, and about 640 feet of Pigeon Creek. The property was named for its magnificent white oak that pre-dates European colonization. Now protected with a conservation easement, the farm will never be developed. “When read more
2
July
Eden Hill Conservancy Donates Conservation Easements on 207 Acres to WPC
More than a year ago, the leaders of Eden Hill Conservancy, an all-volunteer land trust located in Huntingdon County, knew they needed to dissolve due to increasing operational challenges. But before doing so, they wanted to transfer their conservation easements to a reputable and accredited land trust in Pennsylvania to hold and steward its two conservation easements, which read more
19
May
Land Conservancy of Adams County preserves 87 acres in Mt. Pleasant Twp.
“We want to keep the face of the farm the same: No houses,” said Mt. Pleasant farmer Doug Clabaugh, explaining why he and his wife Christine decided to preserve their 87-acre farm in partnership with the Land Conservancy of Adams County, who announced the preservation of the farm in May 2020. Doug Clabaugh’s parents, Miriam and Robert, purchased the farm in 1952 and read more
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April
Changes Posted to Model Grant of Conservation Easement
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association has finalized changes to four provisions in the Model Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants. PALTA also has made various updates and improvements to the commentary including two new supplemental provisions: “Providing for Alternative Minimal Protection Areas” and “Explicitly Addressing Changes in Conditions.” The read more
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April
ClearWater Conservancy Conserves Crucial Bat Habitat
ClearWater Conservancy, with approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announced in March 2020 the finalization of a permanent conservation easement along the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River. Located immediately across the river from Canoe Creek State Park, and along the Lower Trail, the 214.63 acre conservation project is one of the first of its kind on the east read more
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April
54-acre Castle Rock Farm Preserved Forever
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
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
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March
Conservation Easement Monitoring in a Pandemic
A handful of Pennsylvania land trusts were asked the following question on 3/19/2020: What are land trusts doing regarding conservation easement monitoring? Here are the responses (edited for clarity and anonymity): Right now we are continuing to do monitoring visits without landowners along. We plan to move forward with easement annual monitoring visits. We will ask read more
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March
PALTA Publishes Model Amendment of Conservation Easement
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association has published the first edition of the Model Amendment of Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants. Oftentimes when a change to an easement is desired, it makes sense to both amend and restate the easement document to ensure that the easement is backed by the most modern, effective form and provisions possible. read more
