Dear Connections Readers,

Thank you for joining us each month for an update on all the exciting things we are doing at Heritage Conservancy.

This month, we zero in on some of the ways your generosity drives real change and impact in this community. The videos below introduce you to some of the students who enjoy our outdoor classroom in Lower Bucks, supporters who have protected their land with a Heritage Conservancy easement, and others who care for land and a historic home they are protecting with our help. Your support makes all of this possible! 

Before you begin to scroll, consider making a gift. It’s a particularly good time to give, as your donation will activate a special $100,000 match from Jay and Barbara Belding. 

I am so proud of the impact you are making, and after watching and reading the examples below, I hope you are just as proud. Thank you for making this work possible.

Warm wishes,

Katie Paone-Kulp

PS: Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Randy Bimes and Barb Harding are owners of Morris Run, a property that is protected under a Heritage Conservancy conservation easement. Randy says supporters are “making a difference in this local community and creating awareness of the good things that can happen when people act as stewards of the land.”

“Some conservancies will do their initial conservation, and then they'll monitor the property once a year," says Barb. "Heritage does that, but they go a step beyond. Like the last time they monitored the property, not only did they send a letter saying ‘everything looks good, everything is in order,’ they sent a list of all the birds they saw while monitoring the property, which is so cool.”

Barb and Randy manage their land to attract the largest possible range of species. In addition to native plants and wildlife habitat, they care for a herd of British White cattle and calves.

Visit the cows at Morris Run

Kati Bryson teaches 4th grade at Keystone Elementary in the Bristol Township School District. Heritage Conservancy partners with the school to host an outdoor classroom at their nearby Croydon Woods Nature Preserve, inviting students and teachers into this special coastal plain forest to get their hands dirty learning about the science of this ecosystem.

“Almost every child in this school could probably say that they have been out to these woods at some time and that they feel a part of ownership for the woods,” she says.



From mindfulness activities and nature journaling, to life under logs and wildlife migration lessons, to a tree guardian program, the students learn to love, respect, and care for nature.

See how Kati and her class enjoy and care for the woods

“We won’t be here forever,” says Michael Cuba. “So we really wanted to figure out a way to make sure (our house) stays as it is for as long as possible.” This includes precious original features.

Ginny describes riding through Bucks County with her husband, who grew up here. “We drive around and Michael says ‘You know, that used to be a farm over there, and there was a great old barn over there.’ These places are gone now, and so I think having an advocate to hold on to the character-defining historic places in Bucks County is really important.”

Michael and Ginny Cuba own a stone home in Haycock that was built in 1776. It is a rare find, standing in its almost original form, and with much of its original setting and interior details intact. They have a facade easement on the structure through Heritage Conservancy, and it sits on land that is also conserved with Heritage.

Take a peek inside their home

Migration data on a single bird collected by Motus tracking towers, including a new one installed by Heritage Conservancy.

Heritage Conservancy recently installed another Motus wildlife tracking station, this one at Bucks County Community College. The tower tracks tagged wildlife as it migrates, feeding data to a global community of scientists.

The tower quickly made detections, including two wood thrushes that were tagged in Canada and migrated past within three hours of each other. (See the flight path of one above.) This type of data on migration routes is critical to wildlife conservation efforts.

The information will also be integrated into educational programs at both BCCC and Keystone Elementary School, where Heritage Conservancy installed its first tower, adjacent to the Croydon Woods Nature Preserve.

While the other warblers migrate south, the Yellow-Rumped Warbler stays local.

We love a descriptive bird name, and the Yellow-Rumped Warbler is one breed to watch for this winter.

This particular type of warbler consumes insects during the breeding season but switches to eating fruit like Bayberries during winter, allowing it to stay put in local climes.

The yellow-bottomed flexitarians nest in pines, hemlocks, tamaracks, spruces, Douglas-firs, and white cedars. You might even spot them tagging along with other types of winter birds.

Read about this resilient winter bird and how to spot it

"Heritage Conservancy’s impact in the community where we live and work is critical – in land conservation, community education, and historic preservation. For us, supporting the work and mission of Heritage Conservancy is an act of civil stewardship and a meaningful extension of our values. We challenge you to join us this season!"

– Jay and Barbara Belding

The Beldings will match your donation up to $100,000. Your gift now goes further!

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 Business Partners for their new and renewed support:

C&N Banking, Lending, and Wealth Management

Cross Keys Development Company

Dow Chemical Company

Eiseman Roofing and Construction Company, Inc.

Gallagher Greens

George Nakashima Woodworker S.A.

Happ Contractors, Inc.

Jamie Hollander Gourmet Foods & Catering

M&T Wilmington Trust 

Penn Color, Inc.

Penn Community Bank

Sunday Road Farm LLC

The Thompson Organization 

Christmas at Aldie

Sunday, December 8 at 5:30 PM

Cocktail Party

Don't miss this magical night of carols, cocktails, and convivial company to celebrate and support the mission of Heritage Conservancy.

Enjoy gourmet food stations, passed hors d'oeuvres, and culinary treats while mingling, and bid on exciting auction items. Buy your tickets now!

100 Wild Words & Awards Nature Writing Contest

January 11 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM at Grundy Library, Bristol

Celebrate the untamed words of young Lower Bucks authors as we challenge people of all ages to write about local nature in 100 words or less. Submissions are welcome now!

Learn more and get writing...

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