The Natural Lands Trust has preserved a beautiful nearly 58-acre property in London Britain Township to protect its woodlands, rare plants and value to the rural landscape.

The picturesque property has been placed under a conservation easement. This leaves it in private ownership but protects it from future development in perpetuity.

“This beautiful property has been protected forever,” commented Molly Morrison, President of Natural Lands Trust. “Special recognition goes to the Kraus family whose decision to conserve the property is a testament to their foresight and their willingness to contribute to a larger conservation vision for the White Clay Creek watershed.”

The Kraus property borders Pennsylvania’s White Clay Creek Preserve and Delaware’s White Clay Creek State Park, giving it a critical role as a buffer for these parks.

Shane Morgan, White Clay Watershed Association coordinator, said that as of now, 29 percent of the watershed is preserved land.

“Protecting natural lands is one of the best and least-expensive stormwater controls available because they naturally act as filters, intercepting, slowing, and infiltrating stormwater that carries with it pollutants that would otherwise quickly run off the land directly to the creek,” she added.

The easement was donated by the Estate of Marjorie P. Kraus, with Sisters Patricia Kraus Holt and Kathryn K. McClure generously facilitating the process and ensuring the property’s future as undeveloped land.

Check out previous VISTA Today coverage of Natural Lands Trust here.