Lancaster Conservancy

"The impact of introduced plants on native biodiversity has emerged as a hot-button issue in ecology. But recent research provides new evidence that the displacement of native plant communities is a key cause of a collapse in insect populations and is affecting birds as well." #CreateHabitat #LancasterConservancy #CommunityWildlifeHabitat

Section of the Mason Dixon Trail Crystal clear meandering creek Cool geology and rock formations jut from the steep sloped glen Hills of hemlocks and mature forest Sweeping vista of the Susquehanna River... There are so many reasons to take a hike at Otter Creek Nature Preserve! One option is a 2.4 mile loop that is difficult to strenuous due to the elevation and uneven terrain. Park at the Urey Overlook Parking Area and cross the road to the west to access the Mason Dixon Trail (MDT) Northbound. Continue down into the glen on the blue blazed MDT until you reach Otter Creek. Head left and follow the red trail along the creek until you reach an intersection with the blue blazed MDT again. Take this trail up and out of the glen and follow it past junctions with orange and yellow blazed trails until you reach the Urey Overlook and it's beautiful vista of the Susquehanna River. Continue on the MDT for just a short while longer to return to your car. As always #HikeSmart! This hike could take between two to three hours and is strenuous. Be sure to wear orange during hunting season and bring the 10 essentials of hiking (which includes a map - see below). Hiking Map: https://www.lancasterconservancy.org//K.-Otter-Creek-Trail Additional Nature Preserve Information: https://www.lancasterconservancy.org/preserves/otter-creek/ Photos by @dunderkolancco In 2018 extreme flash-flooding destroyed homes and carried their remnants well into the Otter Creek Nature Preserve. Major efforts have been made to remove the debris from the preserve and remain ongoing. #hikeyork #lancasterconservancy #yorkpa #ottercreek #findyourtrail #getoutside #hike #hiking #pennsylvania #hikepa #nature #naturephotography #hemlockgrove #pahiking

How do you plan to have a happy & green holiday season this year? Share your favorite ideas in the comments!

How one old tree lives on even after death. Keith Williams, the Conservancy's Community Engagement Coordinator, reflects on the legacy of an old dead Mulberry tree that was recently felled for visitor safety reasons at Climbers Run Nature Center. A real life version of the #givingtree. https://www.lancasterconservancy.org//nature-notes-ode-to/... #lancasterconservancy #climbersrun

Let's celebrate the Susquehanna Riverlands! Watch for an hour of learning, laughter, and meaningful moments as the Lancaster Conservancy shares its work to protect and restore the natural lands along our mighty river. www.lancasterconservancy.org/harvestmoon/

So what happens if you don't leave the leaves? Well beside eliminating necessary habitat for wildlife and a natural source of nutrients for your yard, many of those bags of leaves now make their way to local landfills. "According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, leaves and other yard debris account for more than 13 percent of the nation’s solid wastea whopping 33 million tons a year. Without enough oxygen to decompose, this organic matter releases the greenhou...se gas methane, says Joe Lamp’l, author of The Green Gardener’s Guide. In fact, solid-waste landfills are the largest U.S. source of man-made methaneand that’s aside from the carbon dioxide generated by gas-powered blowers and trucks used in leaf disposal." Read the full article from National Wildlife Federation: https://www.nwf.org//2015/OctNov/Gardening/Leave-the-Leaves?

First snow of the year at Climbers Run Nature Center live from our bird camera.

A fragile layer of ice hovers on the surface of the pond at Climbers Run Nature Center and glistens before fading in the morning light. The days are still getting shorter and the nights colder. Keep an eye out for slippery stones and icy trails as you enjoy wintry walks at our preserves. We encourage you to explore prepared with sturdy footwear, warm clothing, and a plan! Emergency information, directions, and PDF printable maps for hikers and hunters are available on our we...bsite for each preserve. www.lancasterconservancy.org/preserves by Keith Williams at Climbers Run Nature Center #HikeSmart #HikeLancaster #LancasterConservancy #hikeyorkpa #hikepennsylvania

Do you geek out about local history just as much as you love saving nature? Don't forget to sign up for our FREE Nature Hour online lecture with Kate Gonick this Wednesday! Delve into the past and discover the histories and stories protected forever on some of your favorite nature preserves, like Shenks Ferry, Fox Hollow, and Welsh Mountain.

Projects can be successfully accomplished, especially when groups work together. - Lancaster County Bird Club President Barbara Hunsberger We're grateful for the support of LCBC to complete the final phase of the Falmouth Forest Garden restoration! The success of this project each step of the way has only been possible thanks to incredible donors and partners including Lancaster County Community Foundation, Rotary Club of Lancaster, the Pine Tree Conservation Society, Horn... Farm Center for Agricultural Education, Green Light Plants LLC, Conoy Township and all of the volunteers for countless hours of planting, weeding, and watering! The Falmouth Forest Garden will remain open while the final plantings are completed, so head out for a bike, hike or run on the northern portion of the Northwest River Trail and check it out! Story by Avery Van Etten - abc27 for abc27 News

Leave those leaves, Lancaster!

"It is absolutely critical that our lawmakers do not further cripple our economy and jeopardize the health of Pennsylvania residents by decreasing our investment in parks, trails, and open space. If we have learned one thing from this crisis, it is that our trails and parks are absolutely vital to the well-being of the mental and physical health of our residents. State park visitation has increased by more than 30% during this pandemic, and trail use is up statewide by 52%, with some trails seeing a 100% to 200% increase in use." https://www.inquirer.com//pennsylvania-budget-parks-trails

Did you know that a trolley use to make its way along Pequea Creek through what is now Fox Hollow Nature Preserve? When the Conservancy protects land, it doesn't just protect nature, it also protects our shared history and stories from the past. Join us next Wednesday, October 28 at 6pm for Nature Hour: Saving History through Land Protection with our very own Senior VP of Land Protection and General Counsel, Kate Gonick! Register to attend online: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/118012082315 Kate, a Secretary of Interior Qualified Archaeologist, has a J.D. and a Masters in Anthropology/Archaeology, and has advanced to candidacy for a Ph.D. with a dissertation focused on 18th Century Landscapes and Environmental Determinants. She loves talking about the history hidden on the lands we're all working to save!

Are you ready to vote for clean water and a healthy environment? The PA voter registration deadline is TODAY, Monday, October 19th! Register to vote today at www.vote411.org. #VoteforCleanWater #votepublicland by Michelle Johnsen Photography at Trout Run Nature Preserve

PRESERVE NOTICE: Climbers Run Nature Preserve will be closed to the public on Monday, October 19. On that day our stewardship team will be felling large dead hazardous trees near the preserve's parking areas. Dead trees and snags are incredibly beneficial to wildlife habitat, but the Conservancy gives gravity and natural decay a helping hand when large dead trees pose an immenent risk to the safety of our visitors due to their proximity to parking areas and trails. Find a different nature preserve to visit on Monday at www.lancasterconservancy.org/preserves/ Photo by Nick Gould of Steve Mohr Jr, the Conservancy's Preserves Manager, felling Ailanthus (tree of heaven) at Fishing Creek South Nature Preserve.

The Conservancy is grateful for the partnership of the Lancaster County Bird Club to complete the final plantings of native trees, shrubs and plants in the Falmouth Forest Garden! This floodplain restoration project will provide both critical wildlife habitat and an educational opportunity for bikers and walkers on the Northwest River Trail. Thanks to the generosity of LCBC donors Len and Pat Eiserer, as well as matching gifts from both a LCBC board member and a Conservancy donor, the completion of this project is in sight! Learn more and discover how your gift to the project can be matched: https://www.lancasterconservancy.org//bird-club-to-help-c/

Get in the fall spirit! Nature Hour: Tree Talk - Identify Trees in Any Season starts tonight at 6:00pm! Attending is free, but you must register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nature-hour-tree-talk-identify Join Ryan Davis, Pennsylvania Forest Program Manager at the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, to learn the fundamentals of tree identification. You'll learn how to "read" a tree, easy ways to narrow down the species you're looking at, and how to use identification keys and guides, so that you can figure out the identity of any tree on your own.

The Susquehanna Riverlands is both a place and a partnership. Our partnership includes a constellation of communities, organizations and agencies committed to the mission of protecting, preserving, connecting, and stewarding the natural lands along the Lower Susquehanna River! Check out the Partnership's first ever digital newsletter to explore videos, maps, photos and more that tell the story of what's been going on during 2020! ... https://www.lancasterconservancy.org//susquehanna-riverla/ by Christian Przybylek of House Rock Overlook The Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape Program is managed by the Lancaster Conservancy with funding provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

In recognition of Indigenous People's Day we acknowledge and honor the contributions of all indigenous people in our nation. We also acknowledge, honor, and share our deep gratitude to the original occupants and stewards of the land the Conservancy now cares for. Learn more about the Susquehannock: https://www.susquehannaheritage.org//susquehannock-native/ Learn more about the Lenape: https://nanticoke-lenape.info/history.htm Learn more about Tribal Sovereignty and the out...doors: https://natives-outdoors.com//educational-resources-to-lea Learn more about local Indigenous Cultural Landscapes: https://www.nps.gov//le/indigenous-cultural-landscapes.htm See more

Paddling off into the weekend... Find a preserve where you can reconnect with nature and refresh your body, mind, and spirit! www.lancasterconservancy.org/preserves/ #hikelancaster #paddlelancaster #lancasterconservancy ... by Rodney Shumaker at Fishing Creek Nature Preserve

This community is blessed with friends who care about nature! Thank you!