Deer Damage to the Forest: How White-Tail Deer Endanger Our Woodlands | |
Adorable? Yes. A menace to forest health? Also yes. | |
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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 devouring our gardens and landscaping. From road encounters to flower bed damage, deer have acclimated to our close proximity and become less predictable.
But backyard and road hazards are only part of a bigger problem. What concerns local nature experts is the damage the beautiful creatures have wrought on wooded areas and the ecosystems that support other wildlife and keep our forests in balance. Read more...
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Autumn Birding at Columcille Megalith Park | |
Sebastian pointed out various bird species and their habitats, and introduced the group to helpful apps like eBird, Merlin, and iNaturalist. | |
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This past Saturday, our Conservation Easement Steward Sebastian Harris and our Development Administrator Hayley Wright led a group of members on a hike for an introduction to the wonders of birding through the fall and winter months. The group traveled through Columcille Megalith Park – a park that is protected by a conservation easement held by Heritage Conservancy, situated on the Appalachian Mountain.
"The Appalachian Mountain is one of our most important natural features for migrating birds, but it also provides habitat for many birds through the winter," says Sebastian. "Most of what we saw were small woodland birds, but we did manage to spot a red-tailed hawk and two juvenile bald eagles, and towards the end of the walk we got a close-up look at a pileated woodpecker, which is the 2nd largest woodpecker in the world."
Using the eBird app, they were able to track their sightings through a species list, which included birds such as turkey vultures, bald eagles, woodpeckers, robins, hawks, and more.
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Community Outreach: Engaging All Ages in Environmental Education | |
Heritage Conservancy is dedicated to educating the public through community outreach programs such as these. | |
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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 the form of educational resources, informative hikes, and much more. Read more...
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Heritage Conservancy Staff Plant Trees at Our Russell-Mandel Preserve. | |
Heritage Conservancy staff at our Russell-Mandel preserve. | |
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Earlier this month, our staff went out into the field to plant native trees and shrubs at our Russell-Mandel preserve, in the area we’ve been working on all winter and spring. A healthy riparian buffer stabilizes eroding streambanks and absorbs excess water runoff, fertilizers, and pesticides. It filters sediment and cools the water, making it more hospitable to a diversity of organisms.
With the help of volunteers, we've planted 275 trees in the spring and 439 in the fall, for a total of 714 trees!
Click here to plan a volunteer day or find other ways to help.
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A Quick Primer on Historic Architecture Styles in MontCo and Bucks County | |
Communities benefit from historic preservation; from hometown pride to the connections people make to the crafts and trades that building upkeep supports. | |
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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 event at Aldie Mansion, Melissa Lee, our Volunteer and Historic Events Coordinator, shared examples of some of the historical architectural styles that make up various communities in Montgomery and Bucks Counties. Read more...
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Ally staff volunteered for our recent Fall Frenzy work days, helping to prepare the grounds of Aldie Mansion for winter. | |
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"Heritage Conservancy does commendable work protecting the environment and engaging with the local community to emphasize the importance of conservation. Ally shares a commitment to the conservation of environmental resources, to promote a sustainable future for the communities in which we live and operate. These shared goals have made Ally's partnership with Heritage Conservancy a great match, and the Ally team in Fort Washington, PA has been thrilled to collaborate with them."
- Ally Financial, our Business Partners
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Thank you to the following Platinum Business Leaders for supporting Heritage Conservancy's mission and making accomplishments possible through their generosity: | |
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And to the following new and renewed business members:
Coles Nurseries, Inc.
Dennis M. Litzenberger, PLS
Eastburn and Gray, P.C.
Feeney's Wholesale Nursery, Inc.
Highland Hill Farms
Jeffrey A. Miller Catering Company
M&T Wilmington Trust
Manoff Market Gardens and Cidery
McCaffrey's Food Markets
Penn Community Bank
Wildlife Conservation Game Management, LLC
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Click HERE for a full list of Heritage Conservancy's business members. | |
Want to join next month's ranks? Click HERE to become a Business Member today! | |
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Nature Nook Story Time
Wednesday, December 6th from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Check out this nature-themed story reading and activity! Discover what is under the cover as we capture the imagination and expand our understanding of the world around us – hosted in conjunction with the Grundy Library.
Afterward, borrow something fun to continue the journey, but keep the knowledge. Learn more...
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Croydon Woods Cleanup
Saturday, December 9th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Help us improve the habitat at Croydon Woods Nature Preserve by freeing our native trees from vines and picking up trash. This preserve is a publicly accessible green space and is one of the last remaining coastal plains forests in the state.
Your assistance is vital to its ongoing protection and preservation. Learn more...
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Children’s Holiday Open House
For Members
Thursday, December 14th from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Join us for a special family event at Aldie Mansion! Click here to register.
Enjoy festive holiday decorations, make a nature-inspired craft, and explore the first floor of the mansion while taking part in a scavenger hunt and self-guided tour.
This is a members-exclusive event. Learn more...
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Aldie Mansion Holiday Tours
For Members
Thursday, December 14th from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Please join us for a special guided tour of Aldie Mansion to take in the Mansion’s winter wonderland-inspired holiday decorations! Click here to register.
Enjoy guided tours at 6:15 PM and 6:45 PM, plus light refreshments.
This is a members-exclusive event. Learn more...
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