Heritage Conservancy’s new part-time Environmental Educators. A key part of Heritage Conservancy’s mission is to connect our community to the natural world and foster respect for and understanding of the ecosystems that support us. To galvanize this effort, we have just hired 12 passionate and energetic new part-time Environmental Educators who bring a wide range […]
Our Russell-Mandel Preserve at sunset, as a hot air balloon passes above the celebration. Photo by JP De Guzman. On a perfect July evening, 200 people joined us for our annual Farm to Table fundraiser. This unique celebration included a delicious, locally-sourced menu prepared by Jamie Hollander Catering & Events, beautiful views of our Russell-Mandel […]
We’ve reached the depths of summer, as evidenced by intense waves of heat and humidity. Solace from our powerful sun awaits beneath the shade of trees, and lucky for us, interesting organisms exist there too. Mushrooms occupy the forest floors throughout the year, but in late summer – and even more so in early fall […]
Mountain laurels (Kalmia latifolia) blooming on one of Heritage Conservancy’s properties. Mountain laurels are gorgeous shrubs that have been Pennsylvania’s state flower since 1933. It is one of the few evergreen shrubs that is native to Pennsylvania, however it is very widespread across the state. It is in the heath family living on drier, more […]
Held on June 8th of this year, our annual Garden Party is our opportunity to share our appreciation with our community of supporters. Thank you to all who joined us to celebrate our shared preservation successes! This year’s program included a special recognition of Heritage Conservancy’s Legacy Society who joined us for a special pre-event […]
We gathered together with community members, volunteers, local partners, and specialists to learn about Croydon Woods. We had a magnificent turnout at our BioBlitz Celebration on Friday, May 19th, as we gathered together to celebrate our BioBlitz survey – a private 24-hour scientific survey of plants and animals. The celebration served as a reminder of […]
A red milkweed beetle. Most of our pollinators get overlooked for one reason or another. Some are too tiny, simply living out of sight and out of mind, whereas others occur in plain sight but are overshadowed by larger and more charismatic species. Honeybees and monarch butterflies are the rockstars of the pollinator world. The […]
COO Linda Cacossa leaves a legacy as a leader in local and regional land preservation. Written by LisaBeth Weber. Linda Cacossa, Chief Operating Officer of Heritage Conservancy since 2011, has announced her retirement, effective August 1, 2023. Linda has been an integral part of the growth and sustainability of the organization for close to 13 […]
Eastern Box Turtle found crossing a quiet back road. The months of May and June usually spring most of our wildlife into action. With cooler temperatures quickly fading, resources become plentiful, as do the critters that utilize them. Sunlight and warmth are among the resources that cold-blooded animals, such as turtles, rely on the most. […]
Chicken of the woods fungi living on a dead log on Heritage Conservancy preserved land (Photo by Sebastian Harris). All trees have a life expectancy. In Pennsylvania, some trees (like fire cherries) only live for a few decades, while other trees (such as oaks) can live for many centuries if no diseases cut their lives […]
