Our 11th year of Land Preservation in Pennsylvania
A regional land conservancy, conserving the land and resources throughout upper Bucks County.

Who We Are:
We are a regional, nonprofit, independent land trust, incorporated in August 1997. Operating in accordance with the Standards and Practices of the Land Trust Alliance, we are working to conserve land and natural resources in upper Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This area is approximately 40 miles north of Philadelphia and known for its charm, rural lifestyle, historic character, and natural landscapes. While our name refers to Bedminster Township, one of small townships that is centrally located in this area, our outreach and land preservation work takes us throughout the area of Bucks County.

What We Do:
We are committed to the protection and preservation of the agricultural heritage and rural lifestyle that still characterizes Bedminster and neighboring communities in upper Bucks County. To accomplish this, we must acquire conservation easements on land, either donated (and thus tax-deductible), or purchased. We educate landowners on the economic and ethical value of conservation easements, and encourage and help them to protect their properties. To this end, we have established an easement fund, and as it grows we will be able to purchase easement rights from those landowners who meet our criteria.

How We Are Funded:
Our funding currently comes from membership fees, donations, fund raising activities, easement service fees and grants.

What is a Conservation Easement?
In simple terms, a conservation easement is a legal agreement between the owner of a property and a nonprofit organization or government agency in which the owner agrees to restrict future uses of a parcel of land. The landowner and any subsequent owners must comply with the provisions of the easement. Typical restrictions may include limitations on any additional homes on the property, and restrictions on the disturbance or removal of vegetation or wildlife habitat. Since properties are unique in their own ways, each easement is different as well. In granting the easement, the landowner retains some rights, but voluntarily gives up others. The land stays in private ownership and can therefore be resold—but the conservation easement stays with the land forever. In fact, for the Bedminster Land Conservancy to accept an easement, it must be written as “forever”. Since a conservation easement may be either donated or purchased, there can be significant financial benefits to the owner and future heirs. We are happy to assist landowners to get in touch with experts on the legal and financial aspects of conservation easements.

2009 Bedminster Land Conservancy Board of Directors

• Wendy P. Battisti, President

• Sandra Cowperthwaite, Vice President

• Abby Brooks, Treasurer

• Barbara Thomas, Secretary

• Dan Devery

• Laurie Ermentrout

• Eve Marschark

• Ted Mullins

• John Spiegel

Thank you, Gib, for 12 years!

Gib Battisti, one of our founding members, has recently retired from the Board of Directors after serving for 12 years, since the conservancy’s inception. Gib was instrumental in the formation of the conservancy and significant in developing the policies and procedures that led to our accreditation with the national Land Trust Alliance. Through all of those years, Gib served as a monitor, and oversaw the training of all the subsequent monitors. We don’t know how many miles or acres of walking that represents, but it is a very significant contribution to the work of the conservancy! We are pleased that Gib will continue to support the conservancy by monitoring the easement properties and providing his stewardship expertise to landowners and other monitors.

Board of Directors

Director of Conservation, Barbara Drew

Committees:

• Fund-Raising Committee – Garden Tour – Laurie Ermentrout (Chair); Barns & Farms Tour - Louis Dierking (Chair); Traditional Artisans' Show - Eve Marschark (Chair)