Thank you!
Thanks so much to everyone who contributes assistance or funding to the Westmoreland Land Trust! It is your support and assistance that make our work possible, and we are deeply grateful.
Westmoreland Nature Backpacks
To help you explore nature in Westmoreland County, WLT AmeriCorps Service Member Loree Speedy led a project to enable you to borrow a Westmoreland Nature Backpack, available throughout the Westmoreland Library Network (WLN).
There are different backpacks for exploring Streams & Forests, Birds, and Flowers & Pollinators.
WLT created the backpacks in partnership with the WLN to make high quality tools, materials, and nature guides available for children’s and families’ use.
Online STEM Workshops Available for Public Schools
The WLT is excited to offer excellent online STEM nature workshops free of charge to Westmoreland County public schools, to the extent that funding permits. Dr. Paula Purnell, our Coordinator of
Educational Programming, has developed Earthworm Wonders, Microgreen Gardeners, and Feathered Friends workshops under Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program featuring engaging videos, narrated PowerPoints, and supplementary activities and handouts.
Natural Areas book
The Westmoreland Bird and Nature Club offers an excellent book, Natural Areas in and around Westmoreland County. It is the combined work of over 35 members of the WB&N Club, the Audubon Society and local naturalists, most of whom are self-taught and have a love for the local Pennsylvania landscape. It was edited by long time club leader Dick Byers, and is a guide to 98 natural areas within 35 miles of Greensburg.
The book has something for everyone—hikers, birders, wildflower enthusiasts, and history buffs. A little bit of the history of each site is included, as well as a list of birds and plants that the visitor is likely to see. Scenic views and can’t-miss features are given. Even for those who are new to exploring nature, or looking for a short excursion for the kids, the book is an excellent resource.
If you would like to see the book, each of the member libraries of the Westmoreland Library Network has a copy.
Green by Design
Here is a story map about our project, Green by Design, to evaluate land across Westmoreland County.
Please contact us or stop by for a brochure about the project, or to learn more about our work. The story map was financed in part by a grant from the Community Conservation and Partnerships Program Environmental Stewardship Fund, under the administration of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, through Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s Laurel Highlands mini grant program.
Upcoming Events
Explore the fascinating world inside a pollinator garden as we take a
deeper dive into our Wildflowers and Pollinators Westmoreland Nature backpack.
Love them or hate them — bugs are amazing creatures! We’ll find out what makes a bug a bug, and learn about the important role insects play in growing our favorite flowers, fruits and vegetables.
We’ll use digital microscopes to look inside seeds, sing some buggy songs, and make a nature notebook to take home and keep exploring. To finish up, libraries can choose to go outside on an Insect Safari, or to stay inside and make-and-take home wildflower seed balls.
Explore the fascinating world inside a pollinator garden as we take a
deeper dive into our Wildflowers and Pollinators Westmoreland Nature backpack.
Love them or hate them — bugs are amazing creatures! We’ll find out what makes a bug a bug, and learn about the important role insects play in growing our favorite flowers, fruits and vegetables.
We’ll use digital microscopes to look inside seeds, sing some buggy songs, and make a nature notebook to take home and keep exploring. To finish up, libraries can choose to go outside on an Insect Safari, or to stay inside and make-and-take home wildflower seed balls.
Come to Hempfield Township Park for the first in a series of family-friendly nature workshops designed for children from 5 to 12 years old along with an accompanying adult. Each session will explore the Westmoreland Land Trust’s Nature Backpacks, which are available for you to checkout at the HTAC desk.
In this session, we’ll explore the Birds backpack and examine real feathers and nests, learn to use binoculars and field guides to identify our local backyard birds, sing a few bird songs, build a birdfeeder, and make a unique piece of feather art.
Note: preregistration with Hempfield Township is required, with a fee of $15.00 per student. Registration opens on May 1st for Hempfield Township Residents and May 8th for non-residents. Deadline is 7 days prior to each date.
Explore the fascinating world inside a pollinator garden as we take a
deeper dive into our Wildflowers and Pollinators Westmoreland Nature backpack.
Love them or hate them — bugs are amazing creatures! We’ll find out what makes a bug a bug, and learn about the important role insects play in growing our favorite flowers, fruits and vegetables.
We’ll use digital microscopes to look inside seeds, sing some buggy songs, and make a nature notebook to take home and keep exploring. To finish up, libraries can choose to go outside on an Insect Safari, or to stay inside and make-and-take home wildflower seed balls.
Calling all local birders! Ornithologist Dr. Andy Mack will present a birding talk on “Breeding Birds” at the Bellbrook headquarters of the St. Xavier Nature Preserve. This evening lecture will be followed on Saturday, June 15, by a guided bird walk from 7:00 to 10:00 AM through the fields and forests of St. Xavier. This is the second of four “Birds Across the Seasons” paired events presented by Dr. Mack. All events are open to the public and free to attend.
Following his Wednesday evening lecture, ornithologist Dr. Andy Mack will lead a “Breeding Birds” guided birding walk this Saturday through the grounds of the St. Xavier Nature Preserve. The walk is free and open to the public, and all participants are welcome whether or not they attended the evening lecture. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather.
Explore the fascinating world inside a pollinator garden as we take a
deeper dive into our Wildflowers and Pollinators Westmoreland Nature backpack.
Love them or hate them — bugs are amazing creatures! We’ll find out what makes a bug a bug, and learn about the important role insects play in growing our favorite flowers, fruits and vegetables.
We’ll use digital microscopes to look inside seeds, sing some buggy songs, and make a nature notebook to take home and keep exploring. To finish up, libraries can choose to go outside on an Insect Safari, or to stay inside and make-and-take home wildflower seed balls.
Explore the fascinating world inside a pollinator garden as we take a
deeper dive into our Wildflowers and Pollinators Westmoreland Nature backpack.
Love them or hate them — bugs are amazing creatures! We’ll find out what makes a bug a bug, and learn about the important role insects play in growing our favorite flowers, fruits and vegetables.
We’ll use digital microscopes to look inside seeds, sing some buggy songs, and make a nature notebook to take home and keep exploring. To finish up, libraries can choose to go outside on an Insect Safari, or to stay inside and make-and-take home wildflower seed balls.
Explore the fascinating world inside a pollinator garden as we take a
deeper dive into our Wildflowers and Pollinators Westmoreland Nature backpack.
Love them or hate them — bugs are amazing creatures! We’ll find out what makes a bug a bug, and learn about the important role insects play in growing our favorite flowers, fruits and vegetables.
We’ll use digital microscopes to look inside seeds, sing some buggy songs, and make a nature notebook to take home and keep exploring. To finish up, libraries can choose to go outside on an Insect Safari, or to stay inside and make-and-take home wildflower seed balls.
Explore the fascinating world inside a pollinator garden as we take a
deeper dive into our Wildflowers and Pollinators Westmoreland Nature backpack.
Love them or hate them — bugs are amazing creatures! We’ll find out what makes a bug a bug, and learn about the important role insects play in growing our favorite flowers, fruits and vegetables.
We’ll use digital microscopes to look inside seeds, sing some buggy songs, and make a nature notebook to take home and keep exploring. To finish up, libraries can choose to go outside on an Insect Safari, or to stay inside and make-and-take home wildflower seed balls.
Explore the fascinating world inside a pollinator garden as we take a
deeper dive into our Wildflowers and Pollinators Westmoreland Nature backpack.
Love them or hate them — bugs are amazing creatures! We’ll find out what makes a bug a bug, and learn about the important role insects play in growing our favorite flowers, fruits and vegetables.
We’ll use digital microscopes to look inside seeds, sing some buggy songs, and make a nature notebook to take home and keep exploring. To finish up, libraries can choose to go outside on an Insect Safari, or to stay inside and make-and-take home wildflower seed balls.
Explore the fascinating world inside a pollinator garden as we take a
deeper dive into our Wildflowers and Pollinators Westmoreland Nature backpack.
Love them or hate them — bugs are amazing creatures! We’ll find out what makes a bug a bug, and learn about the important role insects play in growing our favorite flowers, fruits and vegetables.
We’ll use digital microscopes to look inside seeds, sing some buggy songs, and make a nature notebook to take home and keep exploring. To finish up, libraries can choose to go outside on an Insect Safari, or to stay inside and make-and-take home wildflower seed balls.
Come to Hempfield Township Park for the second in a series of family-friendly nature workshops designed for children from 5 to 12 years old along with an accompanying adult.
In this session, we’ll explore the wonderful world of bugs! Think like an entomologist and learn to identify insects, arachnids, and bugs. We’ll go on an Insect Safari and check out our discoveries using digital microscopes and field guides. We’ll finish up by making some amazing insect art to take home.
Note: preregistration with Hempfield Township is required, with a fee of $15.00 per student. Registration opens on May 1st for Hempfield Township Residents and May 8th for non-residents. Deadline is 7 days prior to each date.
Volunteer with the Westmoreland Land Trust!
The staff of the Westmoreland Land Trust invites all interested volunteers to join them for a morning of environmental restoration work at Twin Lakes Meadow. This morning’s work will focus on removing flowers and seed heads from invasive plants. Please wear sturdy shoes, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Explore the fascinating world inside a pollinator garden as we take a
deeper dive into our Wildflowers and Pollinators Westmoreland Nature backpack.
Love them or hate them — bugs are amazing creatures! We’ll find out what makes a bug a bug, and learn about the important role insects play in growing our favorite flowers, fruits and vegetables.
We’ll use digital microscopes to look inside seeds, sing some buggy songs, and make a nature notebook to take home and keep exploring. To finish up, libraries can choose to go outside on an Insect Safari, or to stay inside and make-and-take home wildflower seed balls.
