Pine Creek Land Conservation Trust

01/21/2026

Wishing happy birthday to Ben Shapert-PCLCT board member and outstanding land steward. Have a good new year!

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01/15/2026

The water at Crouse Run is so crisp and clear today! 🤗 If you've taken any favorite winter photos/videos in the new year, please feel free to share in the comments below 🩵❄️

01/01/2026

12/22/2025

Years ago, I attended a maple sugaring workshop. I don’t remember much from that day, but I’ll never forget what impressed me most: the instructor could identify every tree on the property.

“This is a red maple,” she said. “Over there is a sugar maple. And right there is a black maple.”

A year later, I attended a walk with a mushroom club. I don’t remember what we found that day, but I do remember what the leader did: he identified all the oaks in the forest.

“This is a white oak,” he said. “Notice how the lobes of the leaves are rounded. Right next to it is a northern red oak. Look at the bristle-tipped points on the leaves.”

I was impressed. It seemed almost like a magic trick to be able to look at trees and confidently identify them.

Inspired, I decided to work on my own tree identification skills. I read books, attended classes, watched videos, and spent countless hours trudging through all kinds of ecosystems. Eventually, I achieved my goal of becoming a proficient tree identifier, but what I didn’t expect was everything else that came with it.

By learning trees, I improved my ecological literacy and learned to read landscapes. I also developed a deeper appreciation for geology and strengthened my connection to nature.

I didn’t know trees could do this. No book said it would happen, and no class mentioned the residual effects of learning tree identification. But the more I learned about trees, the more I understood their gift: they could tell remarkable stories of life, love, transformation, and personal connection.

To discover these stories for yourself, I encourage you to become a skilled identifier of trees. Read books. Watch videos. Take classes, and spend lots of time observing. Each encounter with a tree is an opportunity to connect with land, life, history, and mystery.

12/22/2025

Posted by REBECCA REID ON FRIENDS OF NORTH PARK

Many of you will have seen the post from a few days ago about the heron at the Fishing Pond who had fishing line draped around his wing. After watching him for a couple of days, it seems that he managed to get rid of the line, but his behavior was off. Yesterday morning we observed him laying down at the edge of the creek, gull-style. Something was definitely off. After getting close and having him fly off several times, we were finally able to capture him by herding him into a shrubby area near the Rose Barn.

He is currently at HARP Wildlife Center where he was immediately suspected of having lead poisoning. Testing revealed a lead rating above the measurable level. He is now receiving aggressive therapy, but this is a challenging case and there is no guarantee that he can be saved.

Birds such as herons usually develop lead poisoning by ingesting discarded fishing tackle (sinkers etc), or eating fish who ingested it.

This bird - who many of you will have observed and photographed countless times - at least has a chance thanks to someone thinking to post about him. The rehabbers at HARP said that if he hadn't been brought in yesterday, he probably only had a couple of days left. Makes you wonder how many of these cases are never even noticed, and meanwhile any animal scavenging their corpses also risks ingesting lead.

If you fish at the park, please be sure to leave nothing behind, no line, no sinkers, no hooks. — with Liz Spence and Paul Rychcik.

12/21/2025

Wishing you all a wonderful Winter Solstice and Happy Holiday season ✨❄️🤍❄️✨ May you continue to find peace, comfort and joy in the beauty of nature throughout the New Year! 😌

12/13/2025

Received this great photo from friend and fellow photographer Andrew Wagner. You’ve seen his work here before. “Notified today that my entry “Down the Drain” won third prize in Pennsylvania Resourc…

11/29/2025

We are so very grateful for everyone that came out to the first ever Friends of North Park Art and Crafts Sale today! An especially huge thank you to Colleen O'Toole for all her hard work in organizing this awesome event 🙌🤩🙌 We would also like to thank all the amazing artists and vendors, our delightful and dedicated volunteers, including the Girl Scouts, and everyone who had fun talking, shopping and showing their support for beautiful North Park together!! 🌳🌲🌳💖🌳🌲🌳

11/27/2025

Friends of North Park Art and Crafts sale tomorrow. 10AM-2PM at the Rose Barn on Pearce Mill Rd in North Park.
Great holiday shopping including beautiful prints and cards of North Park scenes created by PGH Art Den. Proceeds will go to tree planting in the park.