22 Acres Of Crucial Natural Lands Protected In Limerick Township

LIMERICK TOWNSHIP, PA — A massive swath of forested land has been protected in Montgomery County through a comprehensive effort by local conservationists.

The 22 acre swath of land in Lower Frederick and Limerick, known as Stone Hill Greenway, is now under the protection of Natural Lands.

“It is my firm belief that the planet is in crisis and, equally, it's my firm belief that everyone can contribute towards conserving our earth’s natural environment,” said Phil Smith, the property owner who worked with Natural Lands on creating a conservation easement. “Why we chose to conserve our land is best explained by mis-quoting Henry David Thoreau: ‘In wilderness is the preservation of the world.’”

Stone Hill is directly adjacent to several other stretches of protected land, creating a continuous greenway vital for supporting a robust ecosystem and healthy habitat for species that need room to roam. It sits just off Gerloff and South Ryanford Roads and is surrounded by 38 acres of Limerick Township open space, 52 acres of Lower Frederick Township open space, and Natural Lands' 101-acre Meng Preserve.

All together, the connected green space, known as the Stone Hill Conservation Landscape, covers 7,000 acres of essential habitat for numerous species.

Smith is a lifelong conservation advocate who helped found the Meng Preserve. He acquired the property with his wife, Gail Gosser-Smith, with the intention of creating a conservation easement.