Why is it important to protect open space?
Each household in the region saves approximately $392 per year by having open space available for recreation
and exercise.
(Source: dvrpc)
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WE WON!!!
Our annual
Farm to Table event WON
"Most Happening"
Bucks County Foodie Event!
Thank you
for voting for us!
We hope to see you at this year's event on August 4th! |
Upcoming events:
---------- Evening Quakertown
Swamp Tromp Friday, March 30 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM @ Richland Township Building 1328 California Road Quakertown, PA Learn about the night sounds of spring in the swamp and identify creatures by their call. A slide program will be followed by an outdoor excursion into the wild! Click HERE for more info. To register, contact Maggie at (215) 345-7020 x 107. |
Herons of the Quakertown Swamp  Saturday, April 14th 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM @ Bucks County Community College Upper Bucks Campus 1 Hillendale Road Perkasie, PA A slide program will be followed by a visit to a nearby heron rookery on a preserved property. Click HERE for more info. To register, contact Maggie at (215) 345-7020 x 107. |
Be Our Guest!
Rent
Aldie Mansion
for Your Next Event
Aldie Mansion's historic charm adds to the ambiance of any special event!
Our 2,400-square-foot ballroom presents many unique possibilities; it accommodates up to 230 guests.
And the original oak-paneled Library, Boardroom and Great Hall are ideal for smaller gatherings. For more information on renting the mansion, click HERE or contact Erin at
(215) 345-7020 x 134.
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"Like" and recommend us to your friends on Facebook! |
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Follow us on Twitter! Just click the logo!
Interact with us online!
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Weddings at Aldie Mansion
Voted "Best of Weddings" in 2011 by The Knot! 
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 The Land Trust Accreditation Commission affirms our commitment to excellence, trust and permanence. LEARN MORE
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Musconetcong River Channel Restoration Project
Recently, Heritage Conservancy teamed up with Trout Unlimited for a restoration project aimed at restoring the Musconetcong River's channel on the Conservancy's Cliffdale property in Northwest New Jersey. The goal was to restore aquatic habitat that has been degraded by the effects of upstream development. Over the years, the river channel has widened and has been filled in with excess sediment. With funding secured from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) through their Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), this project helped to narrow and deepen the channel.
With additional funding from Trout Unlimited's New Jersey State Council, boulders were brought on site to stabilize the channel and provide additional habitat for aquatic insects and native brook trout. During channel restoration, the river was dug out where needed using control structures. Pools were created; boulders and point bars were added to keep the river flowing and transporting sediment during low water periods.
The state of the art services of Urbani Fisheries out of Bozeman, MT were employed for their natural approach to channel restoration and bank stabilization methods. The methods used will ensure that the newly formed pools, riffles and runs remain in their restored condition. The end results are truly remarkable! The channel is back to its historic width, and sediment transportation has been restored in all flows (not just in high water). Habitat for indigenous aquatic life was restored and enhanced.
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What is a Conservation Easement?
The majority of land preserved by land trusts is through conservation easements. You've heard the word "easement." Have you ever wondered what it really means?
In this short video, Heritage Conservancy's President, Jeffrey Marshall, explains.
 | | What is a conservation easement? |
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Submissions for the 2012 Heritage Partnership Awards Program
Heritage Conservancy is reaching out to our friends, members, supporters and volunteers to help find deserving recipients for our 2012 Heritage Partnership Awards!
Our Heritage Partnership Awards Program honors and recognizes individuals, organizations, government agencies, community groups and leaders who have made significant contributions in the areas of land conservation, historic preservation, watershed protection, sustainable agriculture, livable communities and the environment at large. The awards bestow a lasting legacy to those who have excelled in the preservation of our natural and historic heritage.
Award Categories:
- Land Conservation
- Historic Preservation
- Community Leadership/Grassroots Partnership
All nomination forms must be received by Heritage Conservancy either electronically or by mail no later than April 27, 2012. View the award descriptions HERE.
Awards will be presented at our Annual Garden Party on
Thursday, June 14, 2012.
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Study: Raising Heritage Breed Animals on Preserved Agricultural Land
In May of 2011, The 1772 Foundation funded a study that would determine the feasibility of creating a heritage breed livestock operation on a plot of Heritage Conservancy preserved agricultural land. The study examined the potential benefits of combining preserved land, sustainable agriculture, and heritage breeds. Heritage breeds are traditional livestock breeds that were raised in the past, before the drastic reduction of breed variety caused by the rise of industrial agriculture. A growing number of sustainable farmers are preserving agricultural variety and protecting biodiversity by raising "heritage" animal breeds and crops. Within the past 15 years, 190 breeds of farm animals have gone extinct worldwide, and there are currently 1,500 others at risk of becoming extinct. (Source: SustainableTable.org)
"Heritage Conservancy recognizes the opportunity to play an active role in the creation of a more sustainable food system," said Jeffrey Marshall, President of the Conservancy. "Sustainable agriculture is an area in which we see many future opportunities for the land trust community. This study was our first attempt at an approach to sustainable agriculture that addresses environmental, economic and social concerns."
The feasibility study looked at what is in the best interest of the land, the landowner, the farmer and the community to use preserved agricultural land to establish and promote the existence of a holistic family farm. The Conservancy is interested in continuing to research the potential creation of a heritage breeds pasturing program for implementation on preserved farmland while simultaneously establishing a local family farm. If feasible, a project like this would fit directly into Heritage Conservancy's mission of conservation, preservation and land stewardship.
Click HERE to view the complete feasibility study.
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