Saving Land
Land conservation projects from September 1, 2015 to February 29, 2016:
BERKS COUNTY, PA
1. Brandywine Realty Trust
1.9 Acres
Acquisition—addition to Green Hills Preserve
Robeson Township
Though small, this newly acquired parcel has a commanding view overlooking our Green Hills Preserve. Had the property been developed instead of preserved forever, the preserve’s quiet beauty would have been diminished.
CHESTER COUNTY, PA
2. Barclay Grounds
1.4 Acres
Facilitated Acquisition
West Chester Borough
This past Earth Day (April 22) marked the official dedication of West Chester Borough’s new Barclay Park.
The Barclay grounds have been an oasis of open space in the Borough since 1886 when successful merchant Joshua Hartshorne purchased land for an estate. Many of the specimen trees he planted on his property remain. Following Hartshorne’s death in 1884 the building on the original property passed through many hands, including use as a Quaker retirement home, but the expansive grounds that are a separate parcel remained untouched.
Facing subdivision, the Barclay Grounds Preservation Alliance was formed in 2013 by concerned citizens to find a way to save the 1.3-acre property.
Thanks to successful grants written by Natural Lands Trust and Brandywine Conservancy, and fundraising efforts by the Alliance, the land will remain a beautiful resource for the community. (Learn more and donate at savethebarclaygrounds.org.)
Key Partners: Barclay Grounds Preservation Alliance, Brandywine Conservancy, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and PA Department of Community and Economic Development
3. Devins Property
26.4 Acres
Facilitated Acquisition
North Coventry Township
Natural Lands Trust assisted North Coventry Township with the acquisition and subsequent transfer of this 26.4-acre property to French Creek State Park. Acquisition of this parcel created an access point into the State Park in an area that previously had no road frontage for a seven-mile stretch.
4. Mowrer Property
79 Acres
Facilitated Agricultural Easement
North and South Coventry Townships
Natural Lands Trust was pleased to assist the Mowrer family in preserving their working farm under an agricultural easement held by Chester County.
5. Pew Property
554 Acres
Facilitated Acquisition and Facilitated Conservation Easement
East Nantmeal and Warwick Townships
Natural Lands Trust had a significant role in early strategy sessions that ultimately lead to the preservation of this very important property by French and Pickering Conservation Trust. The property consists of gently rolling farmland along French Creek and surrounding the circa 1738 Warwick Furnace historical site.
6. Yoder Property
114 Acres
Conservation Easement and Facilitated Agricultural Easement
Warwick Township
The Yoder Farm lies in the upper reaches of French Creek near the western boundary of the Hopewell Big Woods, the largest unbroken forest remaining in southeastern Pennsylvania. In addition to its productive crop fields boasting soils classifying it as “prime farmland” and “farmland of statewide importance,” the property also contains important habitat for an endangered species.
The property was slated for a housing development with 26 residences, a nine-hole executive golf course and country club, and a 30,000-square-foot commercial space. The economic downturn led the owners to abandon development plans, and Warwick Township reached out to Natural Lands Trust hoping to find a conservation solution. Together, the Township and Natural Lands Trust developed a preservation strategy in which the farm fields would be preserved by an agricultural easement and the wetlands through a conservation easement.
Once the restrictions were in place, the property in its entirety was purchased by Bill Beam, a local farmer who was honored with Chester County’s Farmer of the Year award in 1990. The award recognizes a farmer who maintains and exemplifies outstanding farming practices. “My son Matt and his wife Rebecca plan to operate the farm and renovate the house, making it their home,” said Bill Beam. “It feels so good to preserve this farm forever.”
Key Partners: Chester County Agricultural Land Preservation Board, Chester County Preservation Partnership Program, Open Space Institute—Bayshore Highlands Fund (created with funding from the William Penn Foundation), Schuylkill River Restoration Fund, and Warwick Township
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NJ
7. Dureka Property
52.6 Acres
Conservation Easement
Silver Spring Township
Cumberland County, PA—still a relatively rural community—is also the fastest growing county in the state. Seeing the signs of development, Silver Spring Township began a proactive and comprehensive approach to protecting their community’s green space, and has called on Natural Lands for support and advice along the way.
In 2013, Silver Spring Township’s residents approved an open space funding program by a 59.6% margin. Funds generated from this program will allow the township to place critical open space parcels under protection.
The 48-acre Dureka property is one such parcel, now under conservation easement with Natural Lands Trust. The densely wooded property overlooks the scenic Conodoguinet Creek; preservation of the land helps insure the water quality of the creek.
Key Partner: Silver Spring Township
8. KB Kidz Property
82.5 Acres
Conservation Easement
Silver Spring Township
The 82.5-acre KB Kidz Farm is another conservation success in Silver Spring Township achieved thanks to funding generated from the township’s newly created open space program.The working farm’s crops include wheat, corn, and soybeans.
Said co-owner Ralph Deitch, “It’s been a family farm from way back. I love farming and my heart is to keep this as a farm.”
Key Partner: Silver Spring Township
PHILADELPHIA, PA
9. Awbury Arboretum
38 Acres
Conservation Easement
City of Philadelphia
In December of 2015, Awbury Arboretum’s leadership made the extraordinary move to place 38 acres of the core of the Arboretum under conservation easement with Natural Lands Trust. The move ensures that Awbury’s beauty will, in fact, last forever and continue to offer a pastoral refuge for city residents as it always has.
Said Chris van de Velde, Awbury Arboretum’s general manager. “As this conservation easement is formally put in place, a special ‘thanks’ must go to the creative and collaborative staff of Natural Lands Trust. They give clarity to their motto: ‘land for life.'”
By the end of the 21st century, the global population is expected to reach nine billion people, seven billion of whom are expected to live in modernized cities like Philadelphia. Over the past five years, Natural Lands Trust has worked to permanently protect more than 420 acres within city limits. “Remaining urban green spaces like Awbury Arboretum will be of even greater value as places for people to connect to nature and to each other,” said Molly Morrison, Natural Lands Trust’s president. “Whether city, suburb, or countryside, we must value and protect the places that revitalize our spirit and bind our communities together.”
Key Partners: City Parks Association of Philadelphia, PA DCED – Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program, PA DCNR – Community Conservation Partnerships Program, and Virginia Cretella Mars Foundation
10. Philadelphia Cricket Club
41 Acres
Conservation Easement
City of Philadelphia
In late 2015, Quita Woodward Horan, George Woodward III, and their family placed 41 acres under conservation easement with Natural Lands Trust.
The land has been leased by the Philadelphia Cricket Club for more than a century for a nine-hole golf course. As part of the deal, the Woodward family also sold the easement-restricted land to the Philadelphia Cricket Club and donated the proceeds of the sale to Natural Lands Trust, the Chestnut Hill Historical Society, and other area charities.
“Our communities are made up of many different kinds of open spaces, each of which contributes to our sense of place and quality of life. In Philadelphia, every acre of green space is particularly precious, which is why we are so delighted to have the opportunity to work with the Woodward family and the Philadelphia Cricket Club to ensure that this iconic landscape will be preserved forever,” said Molly Morrison, president of Natural Lands Trust.
Key Partners: Philadelphia Cricket Club and the Woodward Family; special thanks to Patricia Pregmon
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, PA
11. Central Moravian Church
26 Acres
Acquisition—addition to Archibald Johnston Preserve
Bethlehem Township
With the Central Moravian Church property recently under contract with two developers, Natural Lands Trust’s acquisition of this 26-acre parcel was just in the nick of time! The land will be added to the 47-acre Archibald Johnston Preserve, which was established in partnership with the Friends of Johnston in 2015.
These lands, combined with the existing Archibald Johnston Conservation Area—owned by Northampton County—and Bethlehem Township’s Housenick Park, offer more than 150 acres of contiguous conserved land for the community.
Over the next several years, the Friends of Johnston, Inc. will restore and manage the land with volunteer manpower and expert guidance from Natural Lands Trust. Projects include conversion of the farm fields to native wildflower meadows, improvement of the forested buffer along Monocacy Creek, establishment of community gardens, and development of trails to link and unite the multiple parcels that make up the preserve.
Key Partners: Northampton County—21st Century Open Space Initiative; PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources—Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund Act; and Wildlands Conservancy
SALEM COUNTY, NJ
12. Country Club Lane Property
107 Acres
Facilitated Acquisition and Facilitated Conservation Easement
Elsinboro Township
After a more than 4 year effort by Natural Lands Trust and partners, this property is finally protected. Owners Yvonne and Jim Grant plan to manage the nine-hole golf course area as a wildlife area, and to allow a farmer to keep much of the remaining acreage in agriculture.
A highlight of the acquisition is the public beach access for fishing and exploring. The scenic views across the river are impressive! The beach area was recently replenished, mostly using state and federal funding. The Grants are now looking forward to finishing work on their Bed and Breakfast building (which will also be their home), and in promoting environmental education there.
Key Partners: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – Green Acres
13. Steenland Carneys Point
76 Acres
Facilitated Acquisition
Carneys Point Township
Natural Lands Trust assisted the South Jersey Land & Water Trust (SJLWT) in purchasing of two properties—Steenland Carneys Point and Steenland Vineland—which are now protected in perpetuity.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NJ
14. Steenland Vineland
48.2 Acres
Facilitated Acquisition
City of Vineland
See above