One thing that unites us as a nation is love of the land. Americans strongly support saving open space. Since 1967, French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust has been doing just that for the people of northern Chester County.
After an extensive review, the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, the national accrediting body for land trusts, has announced that French & Pickering’s accredited status has been renewed. Every five years. French & Pickering goes through a rigorous verification process to ensure that it has sound finances, practices ethical conduct and responsible governance and can ensure lasting stewardship of its protected lands.
“Renewing our accreditation shows French & Pickering’s ongoing commitment to permanent land conservation in northern Chester County,” said Kersten Appler, Director of Development and Operations. “We are a stronger organization than ever for having gone through the rigorous accreditation renewal process. Our strength means special places such as the Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve will be protected forever, making northern Chester County an even greater place for us and our children.”
French & Pickering provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation as part of the reaccreditation process.
Accredited land trusts now steward almost 20 million acres – the size of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.
“It is exciting to recognize French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust’s continued commitment to national standards by renewing this national mark of distinction,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, Executive Director of the Commission. “Donors and partners can trust the more than 450 accredited land trusts across the country are united behind strong standards and have demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship.”
French & Pickering is one of 1,363 land trusts across the United States according to the Land Trust Alliance’s most recent National Land Trust Census.
