The basic strategy for plant life in temperate climates is to maximize above-ground activity during the spring and summer months when warmth, water, and light are plentiful. Yet there is one species of shrub common in Pennsylvania that deviates from that strategy in a major way. Now that it’s October, it feels appropriate to highlight […]
This month Heritage Conservancy has completed the preservation of a 55.6 acre property in Richland Township in Upper Bucks County. The Corn Property is adjacent to Heritage Conservancy’s 70-acre Quakertown Swamp Preserve, which is a DCNR-designated Native Plant Sanctuary. With its rare and endangered plant species, this property adds to the sanctuary. It also provides […]
At the very end of August, Heritage Conservancy completed installation of a new Motus wildlife tracking station atop Keystone Elementary School, next to its Croydon Woods Nature Preserve in Croydon. The project will provide the global science community with critical information on local wildlife migration. “We are feeding data to scientists around the world,” says […]
A chimney swift darts over a pond in Prospect Park in NYC. Photo by Ryan Mandelbaum. Introduction The US Committee of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) published its State of the Birds 2022 report last fall. Among its key findings is a list of birds whose populations have fallen by half between 1970–2019, […]
Photo by Kara Foran. This past spring, Heritage Conservancy hosted a BioBlitz event at our Croydon Woods Nature Preserve. This 24-hour biological survey was a huge success as staff, biologists, and community scientists identified hundreds of species that utilize the preserve. To conduct the surveys, professionals and community scientists used multiple traps and visual encounter […]
At Heritage Conservancy, we work to inspire the next generation to respect nature and care for their surroundings. When it comes to conservation and environmental education, we like to start outreach early! So we were heartened to hear from leaders at No Longer Bound, a community nonprofit that serves the community around Bristol — young […]
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 […]
