Western Reserve Land Conservancy

10/15/2026

10/14/2026

Blue Heron Preserve in honor of Janet Franklin Foster will be temporarily closed for maintenance tomorrow, October 15th. Thank you for understanding!

10/10/2026

Western Reserve Land Conservancy is excited to announce the completion of a new conservation easement protecting 25 acres in Freedom Township, Portage County. Finalized in September, the project safeguards land owned by the Thornton family since the late 1990s and preserves a landscape of mostly mid-successional woodland, open space for their horses, and the quiet natural setting their family has long cherished. The Thorntons purchased this property in conjunction with their children who now live next door, making this land not only a place of beauty, but a shared family legacy.

The Thornton family’s dedication and perseverance made this conservation easement possible, ensuring the sanctuary that has become home for their family will be protected for generations to come. Thank you to the Thorntons for their steadfast commitment to protecting their land, and to the many people involved in helping make their conservation dreams a reality!

10/07/2026

Wildlife Wednesday: No, that's not an alien sitting on that branch—it's an Apatelodes moth caterpillar glowing under a black light!

This was just one of the fascinating insects that we saw at our moth lighting event at Lantern Court of Red Oak Camp in August, where we documented 93 species of moths along with numerous beetles, katydids, and other insects.

Before sunset, participants enjoyed a walk with horticulturist Eddie Lagucki, learning about the history of the property, its gardens and plantings, and the native plants found throughout the grounds. As darkness fell, naturalists Judy Semroc and Greg Cudworth introduced the group to the remarkable diversity of insects attracted to the light stations.

10/06/2026

As leaves start changing and temperatures are cooling down, we're reflecting on the summer events that made us grateful for the work we get to do at the Land Conservancy.

In August, Urban Conservation team members had the privilege of attending A New Day in Hough, a festival celebrating the Hough neighborhood at our very own Thurgood Marshall Green. They spent the day tabling and engaging with residents—those who had never heard of us were delighted to learn that we had a hand in transforming the park and are working on fostering improvements across the neighborhood, and familiar faces visited our table with excitement, wanting to know how they can get involved.

Thank you to Stephanie D. Howse and everyone who was involved in creating this wonderful event. It was incredible seeing this space that we transformed come alive, and we look forward to seeing many more community events happen here.

10/05/2026

Early September, Land Conservancy staff visited Cleveland Metroparks Zoo with the Resident Advisory Committee to tour the first-ever mini forest inside an American zoo. This outing with residents was intended to get feedback on the potential of establishing mini forests within urban neighborhoods as a greening strategy.

The Zoo's mini forest is about the size of a tennis court, and features 800 native trees and shrubs, densely planted with 30 different species including ironwoods, Ohio buckeyes, red oaks, tulip trees, viburnums, and witch hazels. These mini forests are designed to grow rapidly, with intense w**d removal, mulching, and watering taking place over the first three years of growth. Mini forests provide a number of ecological benefits, including enhanced biodiversity, improved air quality, animal habitat, and stormwater capture.

While residents in attendance enjoyed the look and positive benefits associated with mini forests, they offered mixed reviews regarding the feasibility of placing mini forests in residential communities. Some suggestions included targeting such installations on corner lots or on lots in less populated areas.

10/01/2026

We're proud to sponsor Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District's Stormwater Run-Off 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run this Sunday, October 4th. If you're looking to get active, enjoy some beautiful fall weather, and learn more about stormwater, sign up today!

09/30/2026

We are excited to share that the Land Conservancy recently conserved a 31-acre property in Crawford County! Now owned by the Village of Crestline, the property provides important protection for many species of fauna and flora, including four bat species of concern and six state-listed birds.

A friend of the Land Conservancy gave us a nudge to pursue the project, as he grew up in the Village and had many fond childhood memories on the property. Soon, this land will serve the community as a passive public park; its location across from Crestline High School will allow students to use the space as a living laboratory for hands-on learning. The fields will be restored with native prairie species, which will host a community of pollinators. Tree plantings, trail construction, and enhanced public access improvements are also planned for 2027.

The acquisition, restoration, and improvement of the property was fully funded by numerous private and public donations, including Frank and Nancy Keller, the Parr family, Bradley Handlin, Ohio Public Works Commission's Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, Land and Water Conservation Fund, Ohio Department of Natural Resources' NatureWorks program, The Community Foundation for Crawford County, Crestline Community Railroad Center, and Atira Conservation. Thanks to generous funders, the advocacy of a friend, and the work of our staff, this land will be protected in perpetuity.

09/29/2026

Have you gotten your ticket yet for EverGreen EverBlue? Ticket sales close this Friday, October 2nd, and you won’t want to miss out on this wonderful event hosted at the home of Claire and Sandy McMillan. All ticket sales support the Land Conservancy’s mission to conserve essential natural assets across Ohio while connecting communities to the land that surrounds them.

Buy tickets now at wrlandconservancy.org/egeb26 and get ready for an amazing night!

09/29/2026

We are excited to announce the launch of the Green Space Grants - micro grants focused on supporting resident-led initiatives to maintain, improve, reclaim or repair vacant land in the City of Cleveland.

The first round of applications are due by October 15th @ 11:59 pm.

In-person Grantseeker Workshops will be held:
• Tuesday, September 29th from 6-8 pm at Neighborhood Connections (1971 E 66th St)
• Wednesday, October 7th from 6-8 pm at Future Ink Graphics (2937 W 25th St)

Visit the link in the bio for more info!