Our annual Farm to Table event was held on Saturday, July 22nd.

Credit: JP De Guzman

On a perfect July evening, 200 people joined us for our annual Farm to Table fundraiser. This unique celebration included a delicious, locally-sourced menu prepared by Jamie Hollander Catering & Events, beautiful views of our Russell-Mandel Preserve, live music from Mukamuri, and more.

Our Property Stewards led tours of the preserve and provided a glimpse into the impact preservation has on local natural resources, such as our pollinator patches. The night also included a standing ovation for COO Linda Cacossa, as this was her last Farm to Table before her retirement.

The live auction bidding was enthusiastic, and the crowd generously responded to the appeal for support of our 60 current land preservation projects – an increase from 25 projects at this time last year. Over 40 individuals and couples “raised their paddles” to contribute close to $65,000 under the tent that evening, yielding an event net total of over $85,000! Read more...

Click here to contribute to our mission appeal.

Saturday's Pollinator Palooza event at our Jackson Pond Preserve.

Credit: Barbara Bell-Hawkey

Our Jackson Pond Preserve was the perfect spot for this past weekend's family-friendly Pollinator Palooza festival, held on Saturday, August 12th.

Located at a hotspot for pollinator habitats, our community engaged with games, crafts, live caterpillar displays, art sales, and guided hikes.

The Art of Living led some light yoga sessions, the interactive forest floor Lego table had a crowd around it all day, and guests enjoyed the delicious Kona Ice truck.

We also had several live performances from the talented students of Global Music Partnership with their teacher Vladimir. They utilized a solar-powered electric keyboard as part of their performance, and their music was carried softly across the meadow and through the forest for our guests to appreciate.

Thank you to our event partners, volunteers, staff, and everyone who attended!

Click here to visit our events page for other upcoming outdoor events.

A rendering of the proposed trail.

Credit: PEC and LevittownNow

Alongside Bristol Township Parks and Recreation, we have recently made some exciting progress in creating a walking and biking trail.

Feedback regarding the trail has been very optimistic, with local residents expressing excitement. "The majority has been very positive," says our Vice President, Kris Kern. "People seem very interested in a trail coming to the community."

The mission would be to eventually connect the new trail with the under-development 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway. Stay tuned for updates on this project and others like it.

Click here to read the recent article from LevittownNow highlighting this project. 

Help out Heritage Conservancy by joining us for Fridays in the Forest (left), our Community Science Team (right), or our Garden Group (bottom).

Fridays in the Forest

Each Friday, volunteers join our stewardship team to conduct different conservation projects including tree planting, managing invasive species, and improving wildlife habitats at our nature preserves throughout Bucks County.

For more info, contact Melissa Lee at mlee@heritageconservancy.org or 215-345-7020 ext. 120

Aldie Mansion Green Thumb Garden Group

Do you enjoy low-impact plant management and working in beautiful gardens? Join the Green Thumb Garden Group and assist with weeding, watering, planting, and other beautification projects from spring through late fall. 

For more info, contact Melissa Lee at mlee@heritageconservancy.org or 215-345-7020 ext. 120

Thank you to Bucks Country Gardens for their sponsorship of this group.

Community Science Team

Join our community science team to help us monitor wildlife and conduct real science on Heritage Conservancy’s nature preserves (bird and butterfly surveys, amphibian migration assistance, bat colony counts, and more)! No experience is needed, and the data helps to monitor wildlife populations across Bucks County and beyond. 

For more info, contact Tyler Kovacs at tkovacs@heritageconservancy.org or 215-345-7020 ext. 102

Special thanks to Marv and Dee Ann Woodall for their support of our Volunteer Program.

Melissa Lee, our Volunteer and Historic Events Coordinator, discusses the Mercer's historic book collection.

On Wednesday, July 12th, a group of community members came out to Aldie Mansion to listen to a presentation focused on the vast book collection that William and Martha Mercer owned. The presentation touched on the inventory and looked into what insights we might be able to draw from the collection.

Since both William and Martha Mercer did not leave many personal notes or journals, a book collection is a great way to gain insight into their lives and the types of subjects they were interested in. Heritage Conservancy is looking forward to hosting more presentations on historic topics related to Aldie Mansion and the Mercers in the future.

To learn more about our historic preservation work, click here.

“For many years, I have been a donor in excess of my annual dues, but in 2020 I simply felt I should do more, thus the gift of appreciated stock. This always makes a nice gift when you have a low initial cost and when donated to Heritage Conservancy leads to a nice tax deduction with the IRS.

I believe in the mission of the Conservancy to preserve farmland, natural resources, and our heritage by designating and preserving historical structures.

I recently discovered a brief article written by Dr. Eugenia South, a faculty member at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine. Her study found that beautiful flowers, trees, and open spaces brightened overall mental health. When we contribute to Heritage Conservancy, we are contributing not only to our own mental health but also to that of our children, grandchildren, and all future generations.

I suggest that you also embrace this great opportunity to preserve our past, present, and future for the benefit of all mankind.”

- Richard B. Millham

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 new and renewed business members:

Bee, Bergvall and Company, P.C.

Dale Rimmer Siding

Furia Rubel Communications, Inc.

Harris & Harris

Indian Valley Appraisal Company

Vogel Brothers Construction

Worth & Company, Inc.

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!

Upcoming Events

'Places for Pollinators' Series

Jackson Pond to Russell-Mandel

Thursday, August 24th from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

Quakertown Swamp

Saturday, September 9th from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM

We invite you to join us for tours of a variety of pollinator habitats our local landscapes have to offer. Click here to register.

Discover how to create welcoming environments for native pollinators in your own gardens, meadows, and forests. These classes are exclusive to landowners and members. Learn more...

Delaware River Kayak and Hendrick Island

Saturday, September 9th from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM

Join Heritage Conservancy and the Delaware Canal State Park as we kayak from Bull’s Island to Lambertville and stop for a lunch break at Hendrick Island. Click here to register.

Enjoy lovely views along this 7-mile kayak trip down the Delaware River! Learn more...

River Days Cleanup at Bristol Marsh Preserve

Saturday, September 23rd from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Join Heritage Conservancy and partners TNC and DCNR to help keep this important freshwater tidal marsh clean in honor of National Public Lands Day. Click here to register.

The more trash we collect, the less trash will get washed into our waterways! Learn more...

Mushroom and Salamander Hike at Hart’s Woods

Sunday, October 15th at 10:00 AM

What do mushrooms and salamanders have in common? A love for the cool, moist conditions brought about by the onset of autumn.

Luke Smithson and Sebastian Harris will lead us through Heritage Conservancy's Hart’s Woods Nature Trail, looking for interesting mushrooms growing out of logs and for salamanders living beneath them. This is a members-exclusive event. Learn more...

Autumn Birding at Columcille Megalith Park

Saturday, November 18th from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM

Join us at Columcille Megalith Park for an introduction to the wonders of birding through the fall and winter months.

As you take in the aesthetics of giant megaliths, Sebastian Harris will provide a guided hike through the park. This is a members-exclusive event. Learn more...

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