Doylestown-Based Heritage Conservancy Receives Grants

The Doylestown-based Heritage Conservancy recently was awarded grant funding from TD Bank and the state DEP's Coastal Zone Management Program.

The two grants, totalling $16,441, will help support the Conservancy’s continued stewardship and educational programs at the Bristol Marsh Preserve, located in Bristol Borough in Bucks County.

Since 2006, Heritage Conservancy has been working as a local partner to The Nature Conservancy to promote the ecological restoration and stewardship of Bristol Marsh, a freshwater tidal marsh.

The marsh helps protect the Delaware riverfront from some impacts of flooding and stormwater pollution. According to The Nature Conservancy, Bristol Marsh is one of the best remaining examples of this natural community in Pennsylvania.
 
“Fresh water tidal marshes like the one found in Bristol are rare and fragile ecosystems that support a wide variety of plants, birds and animals,” said Susan Myerov, Senior Planner at Heritage Conservancy. “These grants make it possible to educate future generations about this special community environmental resource.”
 
Heritage Conservancy received $3,500 from TD Bank's Charitable Foundation, which provides financial and other support for affordable housing initiatives, financial literacy and education and the environment, many of which focus on improving the welfare of children and families.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Coastal Zone Management Program also gave the Conservancy $12,941, according to Esme Artz, of the conservancy.
 
The funding will help expand the Conservancy’s "Developing Future Stewards of the Bristol Marsh" program for middle school science students in Bristol Borough and Bristol Township.

Working with partners from the two school districts, Silver Lake Nature Center and Bucks County Conservation District, the grants will go towards in-class and on-site educational programs designed to highlight this unique tidal wetland environment in Pennsylvania.
 
Heritage Conservancy has co-sponsored clean-up days, invasive plant identification and training workshops, and educational programs for local school students at the Bristol Marsh Preserve.

The organization participates with local groups such as Greenbelt Overhaul Alliance of Levittown (G.O.A.L), Silver Lake Nature Center, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network as well as the Bristol Borough and Bristol Township School Districts in educational and outreach events throughout the year.
 
The Conservancy is currently seeking volunteers to become permanent Friends of Bristol Marsh. The organization is looking for dedicated volunteers who would like to participate in various working events such as clean-ups, invasive plant removals, and plantings of native trees and shrubs.

If interested in becoming a Friend of Bristol Marsh, please contact Susan Myerov at 215-345-7020, x101 or smyerov@heritageconservancy.org for more details.