The Heritage Conservancy in Bucks County hosted its inaugural Farm to Table Dinner Party in Upper Bucks County on September 22nd at Historic Kirkland Farm in Springtown, PA.

A forecast of rain and thunderstorms did not discourage nearly 200 guests from attending the Conservancy’s “Art of Preservation” event, which included an outdoor cocktail reception and sit-down dinner underneath open tents amidst 180 acres of large open fields, pastures and woods.

Members, business members, board and staff of Heritage Conservancy were in attendance, as well as representatives and supervisors from Springfield Township, and guests who were interested in learning more about the organization.

During the event, Heritage Conservancy’s President, Jeffrey Marshall, presented Zach Fuller with an accolade in honor of his parents, landowners Peter and Joan Fuller, for their early leadership of Land Conservation in the Cooks Creek Watershed.

Robin and Marty Staff, owners of Historic Kirkland Farm located in Cooks Creek Watershed, graciously hosted the event as a way to showcase the land preservation work Heritage Conservancy has completed in the area. Over the past three years, the Conservancy has assisted in permanently preserving over 4,460 acres of land in Springfield and Durham Townships in Upper Bucks County.

"Since 2007, Heritage Conservancy has been the open space consultant for Springfield Township, and has provided important insight and guidance into our land preservation program. Springfield Township contains miles of rolling agricultural fields, and beautiful natural areas. The Conservancy has aided us in making great strides in protecting these natural resources," said Dave Long, Township Supervisor for Springfield Township. "Our goal is to have preserved approximately 5,000 acres within the township in the next few years, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Conservancy well into the future."

“The Cooks Creek Watershed in Upper Bucks County is not only one of the most pristine watersheds in the county in terms of water quality, but it also contains prime farmland and is an important agricultural resource in Pennsylvania,” said Jeffrey Marshall, President of Heritage Conservancy. “It’s wonderful to see this outpouring of support for our work as we continue to move forward in preserving the natural resources of this region.”

Lead corporate sponsor of the event was PPL Corporation. Corporate sponsors included Dale Koller Farms, Johnson, Kendall & Johnson, Inc., Clemons Richter & Reiss, PC, Coopersburg Kenworth, Travelda Farms, LLC, C. Robert Wynn Associates Inc., Carol C. Dorey Real Estate, Embassy Bank, FEET FIRST, Jerry Fritz's Linden Hill Gardens, Kimberton Whole Foods, Margaret Pook Interior Design, The Little Farm Store, and WPB Enterprises, Inc.

For more information, visit the Heritage Conservancy’s website.

10/1/2012