Michaux State Forest grows with acquisition of nature preserve land

(Fairfield) — Michaux State Forest has added 10 miles of trails with the acquisition of 560 acres in Adams County.

The land provides a southern gateway for visitors and connects the northern and southern sections of Michaux.

Officials from the Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and The Conservation Fund celebrated the addition on Monday.

In June 2018, Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve donated 80 acres and sold an additional 480 acres to ensure habitat protection, recreational access and permanent stewardship of the Swamp Creek watershed. The Conservation Fund acted as an intermediary. Strawberry Hill will use the proceeds from the sale to support environmental education programming at its 30-acre campus.

“Strawberry Hill and our community will benefit knowing the watersheds, forest and wildlife are protected by public ownership through this partnership with DCNR,” said Kara Ferraro, Executive Director of Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve. “This allows our organization to focus energy and resources on expanding our environmental education programs while connecting people to the South Mountain Region.”

For more than 25 years, the Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve has connected the community to the natural world by teaching, inspiring and promoting stewardship of the environment. As the only non-profit environmental education center in Adams County, the preserve has interpreted its open space as a living classroom while maintaining the health of the Swamp Creek and Middle Creek watersheds.

“This addition will enhance the