HeartLands Conservancy

HeartLands Conservancy HeartLands Conservancy cares for the lands, waters, and communities of southern Illinois for good.

Since 1989, HeartLands Conservancy has been focused on protecting and restoring the natural and cultural resources that sustain the people of southwestern Illinois. Our vision is no matter where you live or your circumstance in southwestern Illinois, you should have clean air and water, places for nature to thrive, and access to high-quality outdoor experiences. Our mission and priorities remain f

ocused on Land and Water Conservation, Community Resiliency, and Engagement. To date we have conserved nearly 10,000 acres of land to support farms, recreation, clean water and community health, wildlife habitat, endangered and threatened species, and scenic beauty. Visit our website to learn more: www.heartlandsconservancy.org

It’s easy to look at a place like the Exploration Garden now and forget how much time, support, and plain hard work goes...
06/22/2026

It’s easy to look at a place like the Exploration Garden now and forget how much time, support, and plain hard work goes into creating spaces like that in the first place.

That’s why we’re especially thankful for long-time partners like Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery. They’ve supported HeartLands Conservancy for years, and projects like Raindrop’s Journey honestly wouldn’t exist without that kind of backing.

One of the best parts of the Raindrop's Journey is watching the water moving through the landscape after a good rain and seeing local families witnessing in real-time where it goes, why native plants matter, and how landscapes actually work. You can see the connection happening in real time.

As a small, community-supported land trust, we rely on people and organizations willing to stick with conservation work for the long haul. We’re grateful Phillips 66 has continued to do that alongside us through the years.

Happy Summer Solstice!While we think of the solstice as just the longest day of the year, did you know that nature treat...
06/21/2026

Happy Summer Solstice!

While we think of the solstice as just the longest day of the year, did you know that nature treats it as an alarm clock?

Here are a few incredible ways wildlife and plants react to the solstice:

✨ The Firefly Symphony Peaks: Because the solstice brings the shortest nights of the year, fireflies have a much narrower window of darkness to find a mate. This creates a highly concentrated, spectacular display of flashing lights in meadows and forests right now.

🍂 Plants Secretly Prepare for Autumn: Up until now, plants have been using the extra daylight to grow tall and lush. But the second the solstice hits, they sense the days will start shortening. They trigger chemical signals to stop outward growth and instead focus on ripening fruit, developing seeds, and storing energy in their roots for winter.

🦉 Birds Start Packing Their Bags: It sounds crazy to think about winter in June, but the solstice is a crucial cue for migratory birds. Many songbirds begin shedding old feathers to grow strong new ones for the flight south, while some Arctic shorebirds actually start their autumn migration just days after the solstice.

📷 Talia Long Photography

Silver Lake in Highland is both a treasure for wildlife and recreation AND the source of drinking water for many people ...
06/20/2026

Silver Lake in Highland is both a treasure for wildlife and recreation AND the source of drinking water for many people in Madison County.

We are so glad to partner with Highland Parks & Recreation and Illinois EPA on this critical project.

This project is funded in part under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.

Looking for a scenic summer escape? Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area in Kinmundy, Illinois (Marion County) is a g...
06/18/2026

Looking for a scenic summer escape? Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area in Kinmundy, Illinois (Marion County) is a great choice.

The state-owned park features diverse nature trails that wind through more than 1,100 acres of dense oak and hickory forests. These forests provide a cool, shaded canopy that lowers summer temperatures by several degrees. Hikers can explore the 2.5-mile Oak Ridge trail loop or take short, breezy walks to the shorelines of the massive 585-acre lake.

Along the paths, you may see a variety of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and blue herons wading near the banks.

We work with the state regularly to conserve lands in southern Illinois. We didn’t help with this project, however. You can check out some we helped with here: https://heartlandsconservancy.org/explore-areas/.

In the meantime, check out the Stephen A Forbes State Recreation Area here: https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/park.stephenaforbes.html?blm_aid=222025728

06/17/2026

Join us tomorrow with HeartLands Conservancy

11,500 acres of southern Illinois land protected...and we are just getting started. With only 5% of land conserved in Il...
06/16/2026

11,500 acres of southern Illinois land protected...and we are just getting started. With only 5% of land conserved in Illinois, nature cannot wait.

Vibrant forests, clean rivers, and safe havens for birds and pollinators flourish when a community comes together. Our region needs active conservation right now, and your support today determines how fast we can move to protect these critical places.

Join a growing community of supporters and make a difference for wildlife and communities this summer.

➡️ Give a gift of any amount today to keep southern Illinois prairies, farms, and forests thriving: https://heartlandsconservancy.org/support/donate/

Decades ago, seeing a river otter in our local waterways was incredibly rare due to habitat loss and pollution. Today, t...
06/15/2026

Decades ago, seeing a river otter in our local waterways was incredibly rare due to habitat loss and pollution. Today, thanks to dedicated conservation and cleaner waters, they are making a splash once again!

But their future depends heavily on what happens off the riverbanks.

Healthy river otters need thriving riparian zones—the forested land right next to rivers and streams. Here is why land conservation around our waterways is absolutely critical for them:

👶Safe Nurseries: Otters don't just stay in the water; they raise their pups in dens, hollow logs, and old beaver lodges along the shoreline.

💧Natural Water Filters: Conserved land traps pollution and soil before they hit the river, keeping the water clean for the fish and frogs that otters eat.

🦦Travel Corridors: Protected riverbanks give otters safe, continuous pathways to travel and find mates without having to navigate dangerous roads.

When land is protected, the water and the incredible wildlife that call it home are protected, too.

Today is our 37th Birthday! We've grown from a group of local leaders dedicated to conserving natural resources in a sev...
06/13/2026

Today is our 37th Birthday!

We've grown from a group of local leaders dedicated to conserving natural resources in a seven-county area to a nationally accredited land trust and:

🥳 11,500 acres of farmland and wildlife habitat conserved
🥾 20 conservation areas and parks open to the public
🌳 100,000+ trees planted
🚲 200+ miles of trails planned and created
🤝 100+ community partnerships
💚 36 southern Illinois counties served

We're excited for what's to come in the next 37 years! If you'd like to stay up-to-date, sign up for our newsletters and email updates here: https://heartlandsconservancy.org/support/newsletter-signup/

Parks, trails, and outdoor spaces close to home play an important role in healthy, connected communities. They give fami...
06/12/2026

Parks, trails, and outdoor spaces close to home play an important role in healthy, connected communities. They give families places to gather, children room to explore, and neighbors opportunities to walk, bike, exercise, and enjoy nature right in their own community.

That’s why the Village of Swansea is asking residents and park users to help shape the future of local parks and recreation opportunities through its Community Parks & Recreation Survey. The survey deadline has been extended through July 6 to allow more time for community feedback.

If you live in Swansea, visit the parks, use the trails, or care about access to outdoor recreation in the community, we encourage you to take a few minutes to participate.

Take the survey online here: https://arcg.is/01rKS81
Or stop by the Village Government Center (1444 Boul Ave.) for a paper copy.

Help shape the future of Swansea’s parks, trails, and outdoor spaces by completing the survey before July 6.

Village of Swansea, Illinois

Sometimes, it’s nice to know that your cabin in the woods or a residential lot you no longer need can do twice the good ...
06/12/2026

Sometimes, it’s nice to know that your cabin in the woods or a residential lot you no longer need can do twice the good you wanted it to.

With a gift of property, including donating a house, a business property, or a vacant parcel in town, you can jump-start additional land conservation in Southern Illinois. We accept these gifts specifically to resell them and use the funds to further our conservation efforts.

Sometimes people donate a camp, a farm, or woods. Once we have identified the conservation features of the property, we then conserve the land and resell it or create a new preserve.

Each situation is unique. We can help clarify if a gift of property to our conservancy makes sense. You may even be eligible for a tax deduction for the full value of your gift.

Learn more about the process on our website: https://heartlandsconservancy.org/support/gifts-of-real-estate/

Address

29 E Main Street
Belleville, IL
62220

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+16185664451

Website

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