"I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art

that anybody could ever want to own."

Hollow Oak Land Trust is pleased to be sending you our first e-Newsletter with announcements about of upcoming programs and opportunities to explore our conservation areas and to get involved in land stewardship.

Hollow Oak volunteers are meeting every Wednesday evening through May at the Hassam Road parking area (just up the hill from Montour Trail). With staff support and guidance, volunteers are developing a sustainable trail system for hiking and biking in the 260-acre tract of Montour Woods, Meeks Run and Frank Santucci Conservation Areas. Activities include pruning vegetation, digging erosion mitigation features, raking debris and trash removal.

Work gloves and water provided, refreshments served afterward. Volunteers are asked to RSVP to info@hollowoak.org.

The work of Hollow Oak Land Trust is supported by members and donations from the communities surrounding our conservation areas. Corporations, local businesses and other community-based organizations are invited to contact Hollow Oak Land Trust for volunteer opportunities including trail maintenance, habitat improvement and trash removal. For more information, call (412) 264-5354 or email info@hollowoak.org.

Small organizations such as Hollow Oak Land Trust work together with other organizations toward a regional approach to conservation. For example, the Montour Run Watershed Association builds Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) remediation facilities to improve the water quality of Montour Run; the Montour Trail Council continues to build and maintain the trail that expose countless people to the stream valley; and Venture Outdoors brings their members and volunteer trip leaders to our properties for outdoor recreation and environmental education. Here are some recent collaborative efforts:

• Don McGurk, of Scott Conservancy, helped improve our parking area on Hassam Road for the Montour Woods Conservation Area.
• Vicky Michaels, of Independence Conservancy, serves on the Hollow Oak Board of Directors and helped with logistics of our 2012 Annual Meeting.
• Chris Beichner, of the Allegheny Land Trust, is working with Hollow Oak on collaborative fundraising for shared services between the two land trusts.

  

Venture Outdoors brought over 30 people to the Montour Woods Conservation Area on March 9 for a Vernal Pools Hike. Zoologist, Ryan Miller, of the Western PA Conservancy, led the tour and explained the value of these temporary pools for amphibian breeding. The group hiked close to 3 miles along Meeks Run in search of the elusive Jefferson salamander. At last, we found salamander egg clusters, which have since hatched into tiny tadpoles just a bit longer and more slender than those of a toad...the next generation of Jefferson salamanders!

Public Relations

• Hollow Oak Land Trust Facebook Page
  Members and friends are invited to "Friend" our Facbook page to show your support and join the conversation.
• Hollow Oak Land Trust Looks to Expand Moon Township Trails Network
  Recent article in the Robinson-Moon Patch covering the trail initiative.