Rare Forest Remnant Now Protected by Natural Land Institute
Photo credit Alan Branhagen
The forest is notable for its continuous stand of black maples, white oaks and northern red oaks, with black walnuts and hackberry along its eastern edge. Unlike many area woodlands, it has had virtually no invasion by invasive shrubs. The site also features a variety of wildflowers, a rich diversity of fungi and nesting habitat for several birds on the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan.
“My first reaction was the forest is really exceptional with its mix of black maple and white oak like I’ve seen nowhere else, and the lack of invasive species was astonishing,” says Alan Branhagen, NLI’s executive director.
The land was purchased from Arneta Reining, whose family had lived there since 1947. Reining says she wanted the land “left like it is for nature.”
For more information, visit NaturalLand.org.
