Forestry Management: Pine Tree Trail  

Since getting a forestry management plan put in place, we have been focusing on our Pine Tree Trail area first. The goal is to bring back the Oak-Hickory dominated woodlands, and to improve the habitat for local wildlife. The plan is to remove unwanted trees, such as White Mulberry and Black Locust and thin out saplings, like Silver Maple, Box Elder, and Elm, and more to make room around new little oaks.  

In the winter of 2023, work began in the area. We started by removing hundreds of honeysuckle plants and creating brush piles to burn in the upcoming months. Crew has been working in the area since to take down unwanted trees, and do invasive removal. Invasives were focused on first, before starting on the trees due to the canopy being opened up. Since work began, we have already seen many little oak trees, as well as a hickory tree and about 20 spicebush shrubs! Crew will be continuing this project into next year. The empty spots will eventually be filled in with native species--trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. Stay tuned! 

It is so rewarding to remove invasives, like bush honeysuckle and see a little oak tree popping up! 
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Birds & Blooms Project 
Willows are a beneficial tree in the wetland area. They provide shelter for animals and are great pollinator plants for bees. In a wetland, too many willows can start to over. We are selectively removing willows to avoid this and make sure that our wetland is available to animals, especially during migratory bird season. In the summer of 2016, we enlisted the help of goats to remove willows by eating them. The goats were helpful, but we still had willows to remove.
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​Douglas-Hart was awarded a Schoolyard Habitat Grant in 2017 to work with Charleston Middle School students from the 7th grade. They came out in the spring to help remove willows and pull goldenrod. Removing the willows was a big project. In the summer, we had volunteers from our conservation crew help with the removal. Brush piles of removed invasive plants were burned by D-H staff and volunteers. Some of the brush piles were left as wildlife shelters. Students from Charleston Middle School came back to help us plant in the fall. After clearing invasive plants, the students planted over 1,000 native plants in the wetland prairie area. Next year the plants will have an entire growing season, and so many more plants will be in bloom. Many of the native plants were chosen because they are good for pollinators.   

South Prairie Restoration: Eagle Scout Project 

Throughout the woodland, staff has been removing invasive species. One of the worst offenders on our property is bush honeysuckle. Honeysuckle is a plant native to Asia and has escaped into woodlands in Illinois. In the 1970s, honeysuckle was planted at Douglas-Hart Nature Center as recommended before its invasive and increasing aggressive qualities were known. Removing honeysuckle and non-native trees, black locust, black alder and Siberian elm, and the herbaceous garlic mustard is the first phase in creating a healthy woodland.

After the invasives and non-native species are removed, native woodland trees, shrubs, and flowers typical of a temperate deciduous forest of Illinois are planted. A healthy, native forest consists of four layers. Temperate deciduous forests get their name from the dominant, upper canopy trees (the tallest trees), including oak and hickory trees. The structure of most temperate deciduous forests includes three other layers. The secondary canopy layer is made up of shorter trees, including Ohio buckeye, redbuds, dogwoods, and paw paw. Next, there is a layer of shrubs such as wild hydrangea, Juneberry, and buttonbush; and a fourth layer composed of herbaceous plants including Jack-in-the-pulpit, dutchman’s breeches, woodland phlox, and yellow bellwort. 

Removing the invasive species and planting native ones will restore the original woodland habitat and improve food sources for birds and other species. Most non-native species are not good food sources or habitats for native species. Typically when non-native species take over an area, it becomes useless for our native animals.  

With the help of countless volunteers, Douglas-Hart Nature Center has continued to use this practice of removing invasives and planting natives as we move through the woodland. Some of the areas we are currently working on include the East Edge of our property, the space between Woodpecker Way and Thrush Trail, and the west woodland edge.