18-02-2025
Lancaster Conservancy to acquire over 50 acres in York County
YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — The Lancaster Conservancy announced it will acquire a 56-acre property in York County.
According to the Lancaster Conservancy, the soon-to-be-acquired 56-acre property, known as the Historic Hellam Preserve, is located in both Hallam Borough and Hellam Township in York County.
The historic property includes a floodplain forest, a meadow, a section of Kreutz Creek, and agricultural land. The preserve also boasts several historical structures such as a renovated 19th-century bank barn and farmhouse and a restored 18th-century log cabin.
The Lancaster Conservancy says the Graham family donated the preserve, which will be renamed the Ingrid Graham Historic Hellam Nature Preserve in honor of Ingrid Graham, 'whose vision led to the development of what is a cultural, historic, and conservation site.'
'We are so glad that my mother's efforts to transform this special property from a collection ofneglected buildings to a truly beautiful and serene historic homestead, ready for future generations to enjoy and interpret, will now be protected forever. We are proud of our part in its evolution and are happy to see the Lancaster Conservancy steward Historic Hellam Preserve for future generations,' said Kristin Graham, on behalf of the Graham family.
The conservancy will officially acquire the property sometime in 2025, at which they will develop a management plan for the preserve that focuses on its unique historical, natural, and cultural resources.
According to the Lancaster Conservancy, the new preserve will also serve the Conservancy's engagement and education center.
'The Ingrid Graham Historic Hellam Nature Preserve will help us tell the interrelated story of human and natural histories,' said Keith Williams, the Conservancy's Vice President of Engagement and Education. 'The preserve will serve as the Conservancy's primary education programming hub for York County, while we will continue to engage the community on all of our preserves in the region, especially Wizard Ranch Nature Preserve, which serves as our flagship for ecological restoration education.
Once acquired, the nature preserve will become part of the Conservancy's Hellam Hills Conservation Area, which stretches from Wrightsville to Codorus Creek and encompasses over 1,000 acres of forests.
'The Conservancy is honored to partner with the Graham family to celebrate their legacy of careand interpretation of this unique property,' said Fritz Schroeder, the Conservancy's President and CEO. 'Ingrid Graham's passion for the history of this land has created a space that will now educate youth for years to come. This site lends itself to classroom programming, and we are excited to partner with York County schools and youth programs to expand experiential outdoor learning. From a conservation perspective, the Conservancy will create a plan and strategy to nurture the forest, wetlands, and riparian buffers that protect Kreutz Creek.'
For more information on the Lancaster Conservancy, you can click here.
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