Land Conservancy of McHenry County Grows Prairie

Yonder Prairie Grows

On July 18, 2014, TLC added 26 acres to our Yonder Prairie site.  This is an important addition for many reasons.  It makes the area under permanent protection and management even larger (Nearly 170 acres!).  Size does matter when it comes to providing habitat for some of the uncommon wildlife that live at Yonder Prairie, including birds like snipe and willow flycatcher.

 The new addition also protects a portion of the MCNAI (McHenry County Natural Areas Inventory) site known as “West Woodstock Prairie.”  MCNAIs are designated areas of high ecological value, sort of a “best-of-the-last” list of places remaining in McHenry County.  You can see on the map how the MCNAI area (outlined in green) extends into the new addition.  We know that there are mature oak trees, mayapples and jack-in-the-pulpit growing in the upland areas.  And there are pockets of quality sedge meadow with Michigan lilies and marsh marigolds.  Who knows what we will find once we start clearing the buckthorn and honeysuckle!

 This addition would not have happened were it not for the support of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, Grand Victoria Foundation’s Vital Land Illinois Program, and the local matching dollars needed to secure the grants.  More than 80 TLC members donated $12,500 to make this project a reality.

 Once some initial work is done, like removing the barbed wire, we will have an open house to show off the new place!