Manada Conservancy has protected a 44-acre, fully wooded property along Blue Mountain in Lower Paxton Township that will be open to the public for hiking and passive enjoyment. Located near Hocker Park, the property includes a portion of the Darlington Trail and is part of the Kittatinny Ridge, an important corridor for raptor and songbird migration, wildlife diversity, and read more
Project & Organization News
5
March
1
March
WPC Protects 62 Acres in Sullivan County
Sixty-two undeveloped forested acres along Loyalsock Creek in northcentral Pennsylvania are now permanently protected by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, thanks to the donation of two conservation easements on properties owned by the Yasui family. Lise Yasui is one of five siblings who grew up with fond memories of playing in the creek and woods on their Hillsgrove read more
27
February
Three Pennsylvania Land Trusts Achieve Accreditation
On February 27, the Land Trust Accreditation Commission announced that Wildlands Conservancy is among 12 land trusts across the U.S. to achieve first-time accreditation, while the Land Conservancy of Adams County and Westmoreland Conservancy were among the 29 land trusts that achieved renewed accreditation. Nationwide, more than 420 land trusts have now earned the national read more
19
February
Natural Lands Protects Addition to Marsh Creek State Park
On February 19 Natural Lands announced that it has purchased and transferred a 57-acre property to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as an addition to Marsh Creek State Park. Located in Wallace Township, Chester County, the land was slated to be developed. Now as part of the state park, it will be open to the public for hiking, birdwatching, horseback riding, read more
15
February
Chestnut Hill Conservancy Protects Two Properties
The Chestnut Hill Conservancy now holds a conservation easement on 3.5 acres along Bethlehem Pike, Stenton Avenue, and Bells Mill Road, ensuring that this prominent gateway to Chestnut Hill will be protected in perpetuity. This and an earlier easement on the property brings the total land protected by this one family to 11.6 acres, an astounding amount of protected land within read more
12
February
Natural Lands and PHLT Protect Native Trout Stream
On February 12 Natural Lands and Pocono Heritage Land Trust (PHLT) announced the preservation of two nearby but separately owned parcels totaling 340 acres of land near Brodhead Creek, a stream running through the Pocono Mountains known for its clear, cool water and healthy trout population. The land trusts hold conservation easements on the properties, ensuring they will never read more
11
February
Foundation for Sustainable Forests Acquires 144 Acres
A 144-acre forest in Erie County's Wayne Township has been donated to the Foundation for Sustainable Forests (FSF) to be conserved in perpetuity as a sustainable working woodland. Under the stewardship of the FSF, the land will remain a part of the local community by staying on the tax rolls, providing jobs through active forest management, and providing an educational setting read more
31
January
Heritage Conservancy Preserves 114-Acre Bonk Farm
Ever since the Richland Township Land Preservation Board made a wish list 15 years ago of the properties it would like to see preserved, two properties remained at the top of the list: the Herrmann property and Bonk Farm. Heritage Conservancy preserved the Herrmann Property in late 2018, and is happy to announce the Bonk Farm is now also protected in perpetuity. The 114-acre read more
30
January
Lancaster Farmland Trust Welcomes Two New Staff Members
Lancaster Farmland Trust recently announced that two new staff members have joined its team: land protection specialist Katie Yoder and land protection assistant Jordan Clymer. Yoder is a graduate of Penn State with a degree in animal science. After graduation she worked for Farm Credit, then, most recently for a small appraisal firm in Lancaster County. She grew up on a read more
25
January
Natural Lands Protects 137 Acres of Historic Ker-Feal Property
Natural Lands, the region's oldest and largest land conservation organization, has acquired a conservation easement on 137 acres of the historic Ker-Feal property. Located in West Pikeland, Chester County, Ker-Feal was built in 1775 and purchased by Dr. Albert C. Barnes, founder of the Barnes Foundation, and his wife Laura in 1940 for use as a country getaway. Natural Lands read more
22
January
New Future for Old Tennis Court Farm
In January, Natural Lands transferred ownership of Old Tennis Court Farm, a community garden in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, to Neighborhood Gardens Trust. Though less than an acre, it includes more than 40 garden plots. Members care for their own plots and share in the upkeep of the garden as a whole, including a set of community benefit plots the harvest from which read more
18
January
DCNR to Acquire 987-Acre Parcel to Expand White Clay Creek Preserve
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) published notice on January 19 that it intends to purchase the 987-acre Strawbridge Property to expand its White Clay Creek Preserve in Chester County. The property includes more than seven miles of Big Elk Creek and its tributaries; important forested riparian buffers; over 353 acres of mature and young woodlands; read more
4
January
WPC Protects Farm as Part of Farmland Access Initiative
On January 3, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) announced the acquisition of farmland in Findley Township, Mercer County that will soon be available for lease to local farmers to grow crops or raise livestock as part of the Conservancy’s program to help support the local food economy by making land more accessible to local farmers. The demand for locally grown food, read more
2
January
Conservation Partnership Preserves 77 Acres Along Blue Mountain
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
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
