Heritage Conservancy announced on September 18, 2024, that the Becks’ 30‑acre Buckingham Township farm will be protected by a conservation easement, ensuring the land remains agricultural and forested forever.
The easement preserves roughly 10 acres of mature oak and hickory woodland that provide critical nesting habitat for scarlet tanagers and roosting bats, while the trees also support a diverse insect community.
The remaining 18 acres of pasture and open fields support grassland birds such as the American kestrel and field sparrow, both listed as conservation concerns by the state.
By adjoining the 55‑acre Russell‑Mandel Preserve, the easement stitches together a 1,300‑acre corridor of protected farmland, woodlands, and riparian buffers that filter sediments into Pidcock Creek.
Leah and Doug Beck, long‑time volunteers with local wildlife rescue groups, will continue to monitor the property’s ecological health through annual surveys.