Lancaster Conservancy’s Shaw Family Nature Preserve in Mount Joy Township is growing by nearly 19 acres. The wooded Otto and Berta Florschutz tract being added to the preserve provides a buffer to the supporting landscape for the Conewago Creek that has critical habitat for fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
“The Otto and Berta Florschutz family protected this land for generations. Continued preservation of its forest habitat and water resources is critical. The surrounding area has experienced growth in warehouses and other development, and buffering the Shaw Family Nature Preserve is of the utmost importance,” said Kate Gonick, senior vice president of land protection and general counsel at Lancaster Conservancy.
The Otto and Berta Florschutz tract is primarily forested with a small meadow area, buffered by water resources flowing in the Shaw Family Nature Preserve. Because of its location and terrain, this property would have had a high chance of being developed, but now it will remain natural forever. Its acreage adds significant woodland to the Shaw Family Nature Preserve, which is largely agricultural land.
The tract’s hardwood forest is part of an expansive ridge that is the lowest foothill of the Appalachian Mountain range running from the Susquehanna River across the northern tier of Lancaster County into the Furnace Hills of Lebanon County and Berks County. This ridge serves as a migratory corridor for large mammals such as black bears.
Shaw Family Nature Preserve was renamed in 2023 in honor of local conservationist and long-time Conservancy supporter Barry Shaw and his family. The Shaw family helped secure this addition through a generous donation to the Protect & Restore Campaign.
“Preserving nature has always been important to our family, growing up enjoying the Conewago Trail both personally and with family members,” said Abby Lowry, Barry Shaw’s daughter. “Some of my favorite memories are exploring the woods with my boys. These experiences and memories made this area a natural choice to want to protect. There is such a rich diversity of wildlife along this area, and it is crucial to protect it for future generations to learn from and enjoy.”
Shaw Family Nature Preserve visitors can ride or hike along the Conewago Recreation Trail from the parking area at 2385 N. Market Street, Elizabethtown, and enjoy views of wetlands that are being restored by Mount Joy and Londonderry townships as well as the farm fields and upland forests protected by the Shaw Family Nature Preserve.
“Protecting land along the Conewago Recreation Trail ensures our community can enjoy all the benefits of nature while being outdoors. This forested corridor is a priority for protection because of encroaching development, the habitat benefits for birds and wildlife, and the protection of our streams and drinking water. We are grateful to the Shaw family for their incredible commitment to conservation and the Lancaster community,” said Lancaster Conservancy President and CEO Fritz Schroeder.
Lancaster Conservancy, a nonprofit land trust, has protected over 10,000 acres of natural lands in its 55-year history, including over 700 additional acres protected or placed under agreement in 2024. The Conservancy’s 50 nature preserves in Lancaster and York counties protect wildlife habitat and clean water, and they support access to nature for everyone with more than 60 miles of trails to explore.
