This summer and fall, Heritage Conservancy planted more than 2,000 native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers across our preserves, and it took an entire community to make it happen. From restoration work to all-hands-on-deck staff days to dedicated volunteers and corporate partners, the past few months have been a testament to what we can accomplish together. 

Why Native Plantings Matter

Every tree, shrub, and native plant we put in the ground this season will provide habitat for wildlife, support pollinators, improve soil health, filter water, and strengthen the resilience of our preserves. Native species are adapted to our region’s climate and ecology, therefore, they require less maintenance, support more biodiversity, and create the conditions for thriving ecosystems.

All Hands In

In early November, our entire staff stepped away from desks and computers for a day of hands-on conservation at our Lindsay Farm Preserve. Together, we planted 150 native trees and shrubs around the perimeter of our new 15-acre pollinator meadow, made possible by a Growing Greener grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. These trees and shrubs surrounding the meadow will attract and provide food and shelter for pollinators and insects year-round, turning a retired farm field into a thriving habitat. Days like this remind us that conservation isn’t just strategy and planning, it’s physical work, done together, for the species that depend on these places.

Fridays in the Forest

Our dedicated Fridays in the Forest group of volunteers showed up week after week, tackling challenging conditions and celebrating small victories along the way.

On October 9th, four Fridays in the Forest volunteers joined eight PECO employees at Croydon Woods to plant 50 Atlantic white cedar saplings. The ground was hard and difficult to dig, but the group shared laughs as they hopped on their shovels to break the soil. PECO (which has partnered with Heritage Conservancy for years) and longtime volunteers swapped stories about past cleanups and volunteer days at the preserve.

At Lindsay Farm on November 6th, regular Fridays in the Forest volunteer John Garrison joined corporate partners to continue the tree planting around the pollinator meadow. Despite fierce winds and difficult ground conditions, everyone worked incredibly hard and accomplished a tremendous amount.

A memorable moment came on November 7th at Pearson-Walker Preserve in Holland, Northampton County. While two volunteers and staff planted approximately 30 trees overlooking the Neshaminy Creek, a bald eagle watched from the woods. The majestic bird seemed comfortable with the activity below, a thrilling reminder of why this work matters.

Corporate Partnerships

This summer and fall, we welcomed corporate volunteer groups who rolled up their sleeves to help restore critical habitats. PECO continued their ongoing partnership with plantings at Croydon Woods and Aldie Mansion in October. Ally Financial and Gilmore & Associates returned for a second time this year (having first volunteered during Earth Week and Arbor Day in the spring) to help complete the Lindsay Farm meadow perimeter project in early November. Seeing volunteers return to witness the progress of a project they helped launch was especially meaningful.

Reed Tech also joined us this fall, and new corporate partners at Sanofi participated in our Fall Frenzy event at Aldie Mansion. These partnerships allow us to tackle larger-scale projects while connecting local businesses to the conservation work happening in their own communities.

Strategic Stewardship

Our Conservation Management team led ambitious restoration plantings across multiple properties this year. At our Lindsay Farm Preserve in Warminster, the team and their summer interns established a 15-acre pollinator meadow, along with 150 native wildflowers this summer. At Hickory Lane in Riegelsville, 100 trees and 300 plugs of tussock sedge were planted along Cooks Creek, filtering pollution, reducing flooding, and preventing erosion.

One of the most significant projects took place at Croydon Woods, where our staff and interns planted 200 Atlantic white cedar trees, reintroducing a species that had been extirpated from the state. Atlantic white cedars are critical to the ecological health of Atlantic Coastal Plain forests like Croydon Woods, which are increasingly rare.

Additional plantings included 30 trees and shrubs at Russell-Mandel Preserve, 300 native wildflowers at Fuller Preserve, and 25 trees and shrubs across various other properties.

Behind some of these numbers is our nursery at Russell-Mandel Preserve, where we grew approximately 2,000 native plants this year. Some of these plants we sold during our summer native plant sale, led by our interns, and others were planted directly on our preserves.

Wrapping up a Successful Planting Season

Projects like reintroducing Atlantic white cedar to Croydon Woods or establishing pollinator meadows at Lindsay Farm aren’t just about planting across our preserves; they’re about restoration, resilience, and ensuring that the landscapes we protect continue to function as healthy, vibrant ecosystems.

This year’s planting season was ambitious, collaborative, and exactly the kind of work that defines Heritage Conservancy. Thank you to our staff, volunteers, and corporate partners who made it possible.

Interested in volunteering as an individual or a corporate group? Reach out to Kaylyn Brindisi, our Volunteer and Development Events Associate, to find the perfect volunteer opportunity for you!
215-345-7020 ext. 157 or kbrindisi@heritageconservancy.org