Prairie Land Conservancy

Prairie Land Conservancy We are a division of Prairie Hills Resource Conservation and Development.
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Founded in 2008, the mission of Prairie Land Conservancy is to preserve wildlife habitat, open space, natural areas and sustainable agricultural land within west-central Illinois.

Celebrate Pride Month with Prairie Land Conservancy!In Q***r Ecology Lesson 1: Urban Wildlife, prepare to take a deep di...
06/20/2026

Celebrate Pride Month with Prairie Land Conservancy!

In Q***r Ecology Lesson 1: Urban Wildlife, prepare to take a deep dive into what is Q***r Ecology? Then, our program coordinator will lead an overview of the academic paper Q***ring Ecology: Re(Constructing) Ecology as a Home to Better Understand the Social-Ecological Pressures Wildlife Face by Cesar Einstein. You do not need to read this paper beforehand although you are welcome to!

Using the plight of coyotes and other urban wildlife in a modern world, this lesson explores the ways both q***r communities and urban wildlife are harmed by social-ecological pressures.

There is a $5 cost for this lesson. You can prepay on our website online or pay with cash or check (made out to Macomb Creative Collab) at the door.

🌈When: June 23rd
đŸŒ»Where: Arthouse Folk School at 133 S Randolph St, Macomb, IL 61455 on the second floor (there is an elevator)
⏰Time: 6-7 PM

***recology

Our Stewardship Coordinator Kirsten Boesen may be smiling in the first photo, but the plant she's holding does NOT put t...
06/18/2026

Our Stewardship Coordinator Kirsten Boesen may be smiling in the first photo, but the plant she's holding does NOT put the smile on her face when out in the field!

Kirsten is holding Teasel, an invasive introduced plant she has to manage along with other plant species that threaten biodiversity and ecosystem health on our lands.

Kirsten and Chris Enroth (a PLC board member and Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator) led an Invasive Species Removal field trip last Friday. Folks from around the state gathered at our Wigwam Hollow Bird Sanctuary to hear about Kirsten's successes and struggles with managing invasive species.

Chris then led a portion demonstrating different tools from cultural, biological, mechanical, and chemical control methods. Managing invasive species requires different approaches for different situations with no one size fits all solution.

That's where the fun, and the struggle, of land conservation comes from.

Let us know how successful you have been at managing invasive species on your land!

Our next Conservation Tour highlights a new partner this year: Giving Gardens!The Giving Gardens' mission is to strength...
06/17/2026

Our next Conservation Tour highlights a new partner this year: Giving Gardens!

The Giving Gardens' mission is to strengthen communities with more gardens in more neighborhoods. Thanks to community support, they manage public-access gardens where all are welcome to harvest fresh vegetables, herbs, berries, and cut flowers.

Join their tour to learn what their gardens offer, how they impact the community, and how you could join their movement to make the world a greener, more abundant, more hopeful place!

🐝Where: Project Insight Garden in Macomb
đŸŒ±When: June 20th from 8-9:30 AM
đŸŒ»Register online prairielandconservancy.org/events

Shout out to the 17 folks who braved the rain to come to a shortened Conservation Tour!Carey Boehm-Corrie, owner of Boeh...
06/16/2026

Shout out to the 17 folks who braved the rain to come to a shortened Conservation Tour!

Carey Boehm-Corrie, owner of Boehm's Lawn & Garden Center in Rushville, opened up her home to visitors Saturday morning.

“I live on a non-reclaimed strip mine so sometimes not even invasives grow well here!” Carey explained as she held up a soil sample. One she’d taken just that morning so she could show people the thick clay soils.

Carey explained she’d been planting native species on her property for over twenty years to help restore top soil but that’s a process that won’t finish in her lifetime.

“My goal is to do as little management as possible,” Carey explained when people asked how much time she focuses on her property versus the garden center. “I do burn my prairie every year.” On the property were several patches of native prairie plants. Some flowers were already in bloom and visitors walked around to see them. Bringing out their umbrellas as the rain began to pour which did not phase them in the least.

While the event ended early due to thunderstorms, there was plenty of time for questions and walking underneath the trees which split the property up into sections. Showing the history of how Carey and her husband slowly added onto their property over time. Making more habitat for wildlife as they’ve added more prairie or planted more seedlings over the years.

“It’s like an experiment for me,” said Carey Boehm-Corrie. “I can test how things grow.”

Thank you Carey for showing off your lovely garden spaces and answering questions about growing native species!

Make sure you register for our next upcoming Conservation Tours online at prairielandconservancy.org/events !

We love seeing our natives pop up in our office garden beds!And our staff don't have to worry about watering these hardy...
06/12/2026

We love seeing our natives pop up in our office garden beds!

And our staff don't have to worry about watering these hardy plants that are suited to our Illinois summers!

On Saturday was our Conservation Tour hosted by Barrie McVey (blue shirt) and Jack Wohlstadter (tan shirt with bill cap)...
06/11/2026

On Saturday was our Conservation Tour hosted by Barrie McVey (blue shirt) and Jack Wohlstadter (tan shirt with bill cap). The tour of their Certified Tree Farm explored forest management practices, pollinator plots, and a Chinese chestnut orchard.

“The worst problem in our forests is invasives. Climate change too of course but invasives are a big one,” explained Barrie as folks asked about challenges on the farm.

While walking down the forest trails, the group startled an Eastern Hognose Snake and a nesting turkey from her nest! Just a few of the many amazing creatures to be seen when habitat is made available.

Jack and Barrie pointed out their native oak seedlings in their tree cages as folks walked down shaded trails, out of the scorching sun. They discussed timber stand improvements such as thinning (removing) trees that will eventually shade out the plantings and the use of fire to help control invasives. “The fire won’t kill them completely, but it will knock them back.”

After a sack lunch in the orchard, folks had enough energy to explore the Chestnut trees. “The fencing is to keep the deer out. They’d eat all the nuts if they got in,” Jack explained. Barrie and Jack sell their chestnuts at local farmers markets and to distributors who can then sell to places like restaurants.

Folks from various backgrounds from retired veterinarians, recent college grads, or homeowners with land they’re looking to protect, were able to form connections during the tour. Building community conservation that is local.

Butterfly and nest photos by PLC member Brent Hopkins

Along with the Bio Blitz last Friday was a special moment: a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new bridge that was constru...
06/10/2026

Along with the Bio Blitz last Friday was a special moment: a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new bridge that was constructed last summer at Prairie Hills Wetland Reserve.

Board Chair Greg Arnett and his wife Sandy donated the bridge to our land trust community. The construction finished on July 12th, 2025. The original ribbon ceremony was rained out and rescheduled to this summer.

The entirety of the west side of Prairie Hills Wetland Reserve is now fully accessible from the parking area instead of along the busy highway. Stewardship activities can now be carried out by our staff and interns without leaving the property. The hiking trails across the bridge have easier access for visitors wanting to explore this protected greenspace. Such as during the Bio Blitz!

"Sandy and I are happy to provide this gift to Prairie Land Conservancy and hope this crossing provides enjoyment for all who use it in the coming years," said Greg Arnett.

He seemed to enjoy using the giant scissors to cut "open" the bridge last week as board members Ross Braun and Dan Moorehouse held the ceremonial ribbon.

Thank you Greg and Sandy! Your legacy will see many visitors as they walk over this lovely bridge for years to come.

Thank you Dean Campbell for sharing your sunset photos from last nights walk at Elwood Wildlife Preserve!This 75.5 acre ...
06/10/2026

Thank you Dean Campbell for sharing your sunset photos from last nights walk at Elwood Wildlife Preserve!

This 75.5 acre space is open to the public from dawn to dusk all year round. If you live in Peoria, make sure you check out these trails this summer!

Don't forget to sign up for our next Conservation Tour on Saturday June 13th from 10 AM - Noon!This weekend, join us as ...
06/09/2026

Don't forget to sign up for our next Conservation Tour on Saturday June 13th from 10 AM - Noon!

This weekend, join us as we explore what native lawnscaping looks like on a non-reclaimed strip mine in Rushville. Carey Boehm-Corrie of Boehm's Garden Center has spent 23+ years planting with her family to increase habitat for native species around her home.

Come explore trees, shrubs, prairie, native aquatics, and more!

Register at prairielandconservancy.org/events

Shout out to the 16 scientist and community volunteers who showed up for biodiversity last Friday!Luckily the rain held ...
06/09/2026

Shout out to the 16 scientist and community volunteers who showed up for biodiversity last Friday!

Luckily the rain held out for our Bio Blitz at the Prairie Hills Wetland Reserve in Fulton County on June 5th. Our volunteers led a combined 40.5 hour effort to catalog the variety of life forms that are protected on our 550 acre wetland reserve!

Animal and Plant ID in order of photo appearance:
-Black Saddlebags Dragonfly
-Pond Slider Turtle
-Lord Leaf Beetle
-Climbing Prairie Rose
-Red-bellied Woodpecker
-Indigo Bunting

Thank you to Illinois Master Naturalists, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, Millikin University, National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, US Fish & Wildlife, and all our PLC members for making this event a success. We will share the data results with you all soon!

Close up animal & plant photos by PLC member Angella Moorehouse

Address

321 W. University Drive
Macomb, IL
61455

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+13098334747

Website

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