Lancaster Conservancy will acquire the 56-acre Historic Hellam Preserve in York County, spanning Hallam Borough and Hellam Township. The property features floodplain forest; meadows; farmland; Kreutz Creek; and several restored historic structures, including a 19th-century barn and an 18th-century log cabin. The Graham family, which carefully restored the site, is donating it to the Conservancy. In honor of Ingrid Graham's vision, the preserve will be renamed the Ingrid Graham Historic Hellam Nature Preserve, celebrating its cultural, historic and environmental significance.

"We are so glad that my mother's efforts to transform this special property from a collection of neglected buildings to a truly beautiful and serene historic homestead, ready for future generations to enjoy and interpret, will now be protected forever," said Kristin Graham, on behalf of the Graham family. "We are proud of our part in its evolution and are happy to see the Lancaster Conservancy steward Historic Hellam Preserve for future generations."

The Conservancy has already initiated historic and natural resource research. Once the property is acquired, the Conservancy will develop a management plan for the preserve that focuses on its unique historic, natural and cultural resources.

"The Graham family chose to donate the property to the Conservancy because they believe in our vision for the preserve and our plans to use the site interpretively to educate visitors on the evolution of our natural and cultural landscape throughout history," said Fritz Schroeder, Conservancy president and CEO. "The Conservancy focuses on conservation education, and we look forward to working with regional partners to help interpret the history of the site."

The preserve will also allow the Conservancy to protect significant cultural resources from the native peoples who inhabited the region to the European immigrants who populated the region in the 18th century.

Schroeder noted that focusing on the impact of Native Americans will also be a priority.

"We plan to partner with researchers and historians to learn more about the indigenous and Colonial history of the site," he said. "We look forward to working with partners to help interpret and share the story of native peoples and other human history alongside our own efforts to educate the community on conservation."

In addition to serving as a future public nature preserve readily accessible to the residents of Hallam Borough and Hellam Township, the Ingrid Graham Historic Hellam Nature Preserve will serve as the Conservancy's engagement and education center in York County, helping to tell the interrelated story of human and natural histories.

Along with the Conservancy's hands-on conservation education programming, engagement activities at the preserve will include interpretation of the restored 18th and 19th century historic structures. The preserve also features key infrastructure such as parking, shelter for inclement weather and restroom facilities.

"Lancaster Conservancy has protected over 3,000 acres of natural lands in York County along the Susquehanna River since 2015," Schroeder said. "Our work in York County is focused on the Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape, which is designated by the Pennsylvania DCNR and includes the municipalities that border the river in York and Lancaster counties. When we protect natural lands and waterways along the Susquehanna, we help protect the health of this amazing and important river that provides recreational opportunities, drinking water and wildlife habitat."

More specifically, he shared, the Graham Nature Preserve will be part of the Conservancy's Hellam Hills Conservation Area, which stretches from Wrightsville to the Codorus Creek and encompasses more than 1,000 acres of contiguous forests including Wizard Ranch, Robert A. Kinsley and Roundtop nature preserves.

The Conservancy also operates Climbers Run Nature Center as its educational programming hub in Lancaster County. In 2024, the Conservancy served more than 1,300 local students and plans to expand its conservation education offerings on both sides of the river in the coming years.

Although the Conservancy is in the process of acquiring the preserve, it will take time for everything to be up and running for public use, Schroeder said.

"We would expect the planning process to take several years before the property is fully open to the public," he remarked. "Educational workshops and opportunities to volunteer are listed on our volunteer page, and some of that programming will begin in 2025."

He added that the organization is proud to receive the preserve and expand its mission.

"Ingrid Graham's passion for the history of this land has created a space that will now educate youth for years to come," he stated, adding that the organization is eager to partner with York County schools and youth programs to expand experiential outdoor learning. "From a conservation perspective, the Conservancy will create a plan and strategy to nurture the forest, wetlands and riparian buffers that protect Kreutz Creek."

To learn more about Lancaster Conservancy, visit http://www.lancasterconservancy.org.