From procedural improvements for the Board to his critical assistance in the saving of Aldie Mansion, Chris Chandor has contributed much to Heritage Conservancy in the last three and a half decades. He just celebrated his 35th year serving on our Board of Directors, and his skills, energy, and time have helped shape the organization […]
Looking for a last-minute Christmas gift or school break activity that benefits wildlife? Consider making some holiday-themed bird suet. It is an easy, cheap, and fun way to attract birds to your yard this winter. Birds frequent feeders throughout the year, but visit them more during the winter months when other food resources are scarce. […]
Snow isn’t a welcome sight for many. It can obstruct travel plans, often requires shoveling, and creates giant, seemingly everlasting snow mountains that we have to circumvent in parking lots. Yet the services that snow provides, particularly to plants, wildlife, and the people who appreciate them, make all of those gripes seem a bit superficial. […]
Winter is beautiful in Bucks County. It’s no wonder (and no secret) that William and Martha Mercer loved Christmas, especially at Aldie. They enjoyed hosting parties at their estate for the holidays and entertaining local friends and family. Perhaps their most legendary Christmas gathering was in 1941, when they hosted the Von Trapp family singers […]
Every month, our community outreach programs garner a huge amount of interest and engagement, from people of all ages. From experienced bird-watching enthusiasts to excited middle school students, our programming provides something for everyone. Often led by our Community Engagement team Kaylyn Brindisi, Shannon Fredebaugh-Siller, and Whittier Henke, Heritage Conservancy’s outreach and education comes in […]
Bucks and Montgomery Counties are full of history, and one can find a rich mix of architecture in their streetscapes and housing stock. The various home and building styles create a footprint of the communities’ growth and development through time. Beyond being beloved landmarks, historic buildings create a living timeline. In a recent Heritage Conservancy […]
If you’ve never heard of the fruit and tree known as Pawpaw, you’re not alone, and if you have heard of it, chances are you’re a big fan. As the largest edible fruit native to North America, the Pawpaw has a lot to offer, but it has largely gone under-appreciated in recent years. Small Tree, […]
The white-tail deer is cute, yes. Over the past decade, many of us have enjoyed increased backyard visitation and photo ops from an expanding deer population. We may also have cursed them for the scat they leave behind and for the way they shamelessly devour our gardens and landscaping. The unluckiest of us may have […]
The landscape is transforming, as it always does this time of year. Vegetation becomes more nuanced, more colorful, and gradually returns to the earth. Within these new blankets of leaf litter, you’ll find a variety of interesting organisms, including amphibians, invertebrates, and perhaps most notably, mushrooms. For National Mushroom Day this past Sunday, Luke Smithson, […]
We gathered together at Aldie Mansion to celebrate our volunteers during our September 13th Volunteer Appreciation Celebration. “Our volunteers are the backbone of our work and help us provide for the community,” says Development Associate Melissa Lee. “We wanted to celebrate them and all they do for us!” We enjoyed delicious local food, drinks, and […]
