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Preserved for You

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Whether you're hiking through the woods, picnicking in a scenic grove, or fishing along a peaceful shoreline, the Forest Preserve District's 26,000 acres of open spaces provide countless ways to connect to nature close to home.

The forest preserves also contribute to cleaner air and water and help with flood control, benefits we can all gain whether we’re frequent visitors or not. Forest preserves hold rainwater, allowing it to slowly soak into roots and seep into soils that filter out chemicals before they can reach waterways or underground aquifers. Plants absorb pollutants like carbon dioxide and particulate matter through tiny openings in their leaves and use them as nutrients or store them in their tissues.

Of course these open spaces are also vital to native wildlife. It’s a top reason why the Forest Preserve District works throughout the year to improve and maintain the county’s high-quality woodlands, prairies, wetlands, and waterways.

And all these open spaces are preserved for you!

Spreading Seeds at Fullersburg Woods

It often requires patience to see the full effects of restoration, but you can already see a difference at Fullersburg Woods. And natural resources crews recently started spreading native seeds that will ultimately support a variety of wildlife.

Planting Native Trees at Fullersburg Woods

After months of removing invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle, we're excited to begin planting sycamores, tulip trees, red buds, and oaks at Fullersburg Woods 

First Blanding's Turtle Release of 2024

Here's a look at this year's first batch of captive-reared state-endangered Blanding's turtles to be released into the wild. What makes this group extra special is they were raised by volunteers.