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 the importance of the precious land we work tirelessly to protect, as we witnessed a community of kindred spirits join together to support our mission: protecting and preserving the lands around us and the history that unfolded on those lands. Attendees of the event enjoyed our guided hikes, free food trucks (Munchy Machine and Kona Ice), fantastic music from Rebel Strings, and the many hands-on educational tables presented by Heritage Conservancy’s nonprofit partners.

Results from the celebration’s onsite review revealed that 87.5% of participants indicated that because of the event, they would utilize Croydon Woods more frequently. Through conversations with families, some were surprised by how much this once neglected piece of land, previously a hazardous waste site, has now become such an attractive area to visit. Read more...

Visit our YouTube page to watch our newest environmental documentary.

Filmmaker Kara Foran has released an educational documentary about our Amphibian Crossing Programs, alongside our Conservation Steward Tyler Kovacs. This video highlights the importance of vernal pools, the habits of amphibians in the local area, and the impact of our volunteer programs.

Each spring and fall, Heritage Conservancy volunteers lend their time to help save our local amphibian populations as they migrate across dangerous roads. This provides population data while also determining how many did not cross successfully.

Featuring: Tyler Kovacs, Heritage Conservancy's Conservation Steward. 

Produced by: Kara Foran, photographer and filmmaker.

Discover more of Kara's work at her website.

Heritage Conservancy members listen to Conservation Steward Tyler Kovacs' presentation (left), and watch on as bats emerge from the barn (right).

On the evening of June 19th, a group of Heritage Conservancy members had the opportunity to witness firsthand the conservation efforts of our team of Community Science Volunteers as they conducted a count of the bats that emerged from the rustic barn on Heritage Conservancy's Russell-Mandel preserve.

After an informative presentation from Conservation Steward Tyler Kovacs on the significance of local bats and the importance of their conservation to our environment, guests enjoyed a tour of the preserve's native gardens with the backdrop of a tranquil sunset. Then, volunteers and members of Heritage Conservancy bore witness to the impact that their conservation efforts make on our ecosystem as they got to witness the fascinating big brown bats gracefully take to the open air, navigating their nocturnal path.

This count was conducted in order to monitor the health of this local bat colony in the wake of White-Nose Syndrome, a wildlife disease that has killed millions of bats across North America. The data will be provided to the Pennsylvania Game Commission to help assess the status of Pennsylvania’s bat species. This data is important in determining the population status of some species as they begin to recover from a 99% decline in the state due to White-nose syndrome. 

It is through the dedication and commitment of our Community Science Volunteers, and the unwavering support of individuals like you, that our essential environmental work continues to flourish.

If you are interested in joining Heritage Conservancy as a member, click here.

If you are interested in volunteering with Heritage Conservancy as a Community Scientist, please reach out to Tyler Kovacs at tkovacs@heritageconservancy.org or click here for more information.

AmeriCorps volunteers at our Fuller-Pursell Preserve.

Heritage Conservancy was joined by AmeriCorps volunteers on Saturday, May 27th, to work on a project involving invasive garlic mustard removal at our Fuller-Pursell Preserve. They filled 28 large garbage bags, and provided timely service in the quickly closing window to manage this invasive species. Once the seed pod gets ripe, when touched, it explodes and sends seeds flying in all directions. 

Volunteers came from all over, from places such as Connecticut, DC, Kansas, and more.

"It was rewarding to see the impact of our work on the forest," says AmeriCorps representative Holden Leathers. "We learned how one invasive species can negatively affect many other species. It is important to take care of our wilderness.”

The funding will aid in new and exciting education initiatives involving teacher-training.

We are proud to announce that Heritage Conservancy has been selected as recipients of a $30,000 grant for the 2023 Environmental Education Grant Awards from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. 

This funding will go towards hosting four professional development teacher training sessions that provide the tools, knowledge, and resources necessary to implement the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 'Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences' with students (grades 4-12), including student-driven environmental action projects.

Click here to check out the 'Southeast Counties' section for more information, and keep an eye out for more details in the near future.

The Prickett Barn.

Heritage Conservancy’s Jeff Marshall recently completed a report outlining the development of the English Lake District barn in Bucks and surrounding counties. Heritage Conservancy was commissioned to prepare this report as part of the mitigation required of a developer for the adverse impact that resulted from the development of the Prickett property in Lower Makefield, Bucks County.

Because English-influenced barns have not been studied as extensively as Swiss- and German-influenced barns, there has been far less reliable information about when they first appeared in Pennsylvania. This report, which is available on the PA Historical and Museum Commission’s PA-SHARE system (as report number 2023RP00115), fills in a large gap in the study of these important historic resources.

As part of a mixed-use development, the barn will become a restaurant. Because of this change, as well as the significant agricultural history of the farm, the township required the developer to fund this project and also donate $5,000 to the Historic Barn and Farm Foundation for its newly established barn preservation grant program; making funds available to barn owners seeking funding for barn rehabilitation.

To learn more about our historic preservation work, click here.

“Alice and I have now had the good fortune of being residents of Bucks County for fifty years. And whereas we know that it's unrealistic to think that everything will always "remain the same," we can't help but be alarmed by the encroachment of housing developments and shopping centers on the once-pristine beauty of the county.

No organization has done more to protect the region's land and its history than Heritage Conservancy. For that reason we decided to support the Conservancy, both in the present -- and in the future through our membership in the Legacy Society. We have included Heritage Conservancy in our estate plans, and hope that you will as well.” 

- Bob and Alice Vernon

Thank you to the following Platinum Business Leaders for supporting Heritage Conservancy's mission and making accomplishments possible through their generosity:

And to the following new and renewed business members:

Ally Financial Inc.

Arthur L. D'Angelo, MBA, CLU, ChFC

Crews Surveying, LLC

Ecovyst

Harper Business Law PC

M. Dobron and Sons, Inc.

M&T Wilmington Trust

Mike Granieri Lawn Care, Inc.

QNB Bank

Shan-Gri-La Sod Farm

Swimair Technologies, LLC

Wehrung's Lumber & Home Center

William B. Parry & Son, Ltd. Insurance

Click HERE for a full list of Heritage Conservancy's business members.

Want to join next month's ranks? Click HERE to become a member today!

Upcoming Events

Bats Across Bucks County: Upper Bucks

Friday, June 23rd from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Enjoy a lovely summer evening outside while watching bats emerge to start finding their dinner. Click here to register for this event.

Learn about Pennsylvania bats, why they are important, and why Durham Bat Mine is a special place. After the presentation, become a Community Scientist by helping with our annual bat count. Learn more...

Mercer Book Collection Presentation

Wednesday, July 12th at 6:00 PM

Join us for a special historic presentation at Aldie Mansion to learn about William and Martha Mercer's vast book collection. Click here to register for this event.

We will have the fascinating opportunity to analyze how the books they owned may have influenced their lives, Aldie Mansion’s architecture, and the surrounding grounds. Learn more...

Farm to Table

Saturday, July 22nd at 5:30 PM

Don’t miss this unique experience with a delicious, locally-sourced, farm-fresh menu prepared by Jamie Hollander Catering & Events, along with live music from Mukamuri; all on a gorgeous backdrop of preserved space. 

Farm to Table is limited capacity, so get your tickets fast! Learn more...

Save the Dates: ‘Places for Pollinators’ Class Series

August 9th, August 24th, and September 9th

Join us for Heritage Conservancy’s 3-part series of in-person classes about pollinators across the landscape.

Learn more about how you can cultivate welcoming gardens, meadows, and forests for our native pollinating friends. Learn more...

Pollinator Palooza

Saturday, August 12th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

As the butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, so too has our Jackson Pond Preserve metamorphosed into a beautiful 4-acre pollinator meadow! Located at a hotspot for pollinator habitats, Pollinator Palooza is a family-friendly festival.

Enjoy the summertime beauty of Jackson Pond, and join us to celebrate our local land, history, and community. Learn more...

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