Westmoreland Land Trust Protects 23-Acre Turtle Creek Gorge Property Along the Westmoreland Heritage Trail; Ribbon Cutting to be held August 6th
July 9, 2026 – Westmoreland Land Trust (WLT) is pleased to announce their successful acquisition of a 23-acre wooded property in Trafford bordering the Westmoreland Heritage Trail and Turtle Creek, permanently protecting a significant scenic and ecologically important natural corridor in the region. The land is located in Westmoreland County between the Forbes Road trailhead near Parkside Plaza and the Saunders Station Road trailhead.
“This acquisition is a powerful reminder that land protection is a team effort,” said Leanna Bird, Executive Director of Westmoreland Land Trust. “Private landowners, conservation and recreation partners, philanthropy, and local government each played an important role in protecting this remarkable stretch of the Turtle Creek Gorge. Together, we’ve ensured this landscape will remain permanently protected for future generations.
The acquisition represents the culmination of nearly two years of effort by the Westmoreland Land Trust alongside private landowners, donors, and fellow conservation organizations, including the Murrysville Area Watershed Association, whose partnership helped strengthen the effort to protect the landscape.
The area is celebrated for its biodiversity, serving as an important natural greenway and an officially recognized Core Habitat by the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. It protects a remarkable stretch of the Turtle Creek Gorge, reserving mature forest, towering rock outcroppings, and the natural beauty experienced by thousands of visitors along the Westmoreland Heritage Trail each year. Beyond its scenic value, the property provides important wildlife habitat, strengthens ecological connectivity, and ensures this unique landscape will remain undeveloped and protected for generations to come.
“This joint effort represents the very best of environmental stewardship and will help protect important watershed resources for years to come,” Ben Sampson, President, Murrysville Area Watershed Association.
The property will be permanently protected and stewarded as part of Westmoreland Land Trust’s growing network of conserved lands across Westmoreland County, now totaling over 740 acres.
Westmoreland Land Trust extends its sincere appreciation to those whose generosity and partnership made this acquisition possible, including a private donor, Murrysville Area Watershed Association, and WeConservePA, as well as the Westmoreland Heritage Trail, Westmoreland County Parks and Recreation, Westmoreland County Land Bank, Turtle Creek Watershed Association, Westmoreland Conservancy, and the many others who have dedicated years of effort to protecting and enhancing the lands, waters, and trails of the Turtle Creek Gorge corridor.
Westmoreland Land Trust Earns National Recognition
Westmoreland Land Trust has achieved national recognition – joining a network of over 450 accredited land trusts across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in their work.
Westmoreland Land Trust provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded accreditation, signifying its confidence that Westmoreland Land Trust’s lands will be protected forever. Accredited land trusts steward almost 20 million acres of land – the size of Denali, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Everglades and Yosemite National Parks combined.
“It is exciting to recognize Westmoreland Land Trust with this national mark of distinction,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, Executive Director of the Commission. “Donors and partners can trust the more than 450 accredited land trusts across the country are united behind strong standards and have demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship.”
Westmoreland Land Trust is one of 1,363 land trusts across the United States according to the Land Trust Alliance’s most recent National Land Trust Census. A complete list of accredited land trusts and more information about the process and benefits can be found at www.landtrustaccreditation.org.
WLT Launches SEED Project with Jeannette City School District
February 6, 2026 – WLT is thrilled to announce that its Micro Grant Project Proposal, SEED (Students Explore, Engage, and Discover): Nature Journaling Across the Fourth Grade Curriculum Pilot, was selected for funding by the Wild Wonder Foundation. From more than 400 proposals submitted across sixty-nine countries and thirty-six U.S. states, only ten projects representing seven countries were chosen for funding.
WLT’s SEED project is bringing together fourth-grade Science, English, and Art teachers from the Jeannette City School District in collaboration with WLT’s Coordinator of Education Programming, Paula Purnell. Together, they are creating an innovative, integrated fourth-grade curriculum that places nature journaling at the heart of learning—sparking curiosity, creativity, and discovery across disciplines.
Thanks to this generous grant, WLT was able to provide a full day of professional development at Meadowlark Nature and Art Park for the participating teachers, and each of the 63 fourth-grade students received their own nature journaling kit. On May 7 and 8, Jeannette students will head to Meadowlark Nature and Art Park for immersive field trips filled with hands-on exploration, outdoor learning, and plenty of nature journaling adventures.
The SEED program will culminate in a joyful community celebration, which has been designated as a Pennsylvania Southwest Region Remake Learning Day. This special event will take place on Monday, May 18, at Jeannette McKee Elementary School. Students will proudly showcase their work and invite families to participate in hands-on demonstrations, highlighting the skills, creativity, and confidence they’ve grown through their SEED experiences.
St. Xavier Nature Preserve Expands by 102 Acres
June 2025 – With generous support from the PA Department of Conservation of Natural Resources, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Colcom Foundation, and the Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation The Westmoreland Land Trust, acquired an additional 102 acres, to enlarge the St. Xavier Nature Preserve in Unity Township to a total of 350 acres. The Preserve is open to the public. In 2022, the Land Trust worked with the Sisters of Mercy to preserve the 249-acre site of their former Saint Xavier Academy, which is now open to the public. This acquisition was made with funding assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural resources Bureau of Recreation and Conservation (DCNR) and from the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.
STEM Workshops Available for Public Schools
The WLT is excited to offer excellent 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; Feathered Friends; and Bees, Bugs & Butterflies workshops under Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program featuring hands-on learning opportunities.