Conservation easements protect high-quality natural areas.
For the past 29 years, Angella Moorehouse has worked for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as a field representative for the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission in west-central Illinois, where she prepares conservation easements to protect high-quality natural areas and assists in the management and monitoring of flora and fauna on these sites. She has also published 6 insect field guides.
Join Angella on a tour of Illinois Nature Preserve Short Fork Seep! This 42-acre site is owned by Alice Henry, a Prairie Land Conservancy board member. The wetlands here are considered high-quality remnants: 1.7 acres of Grade B seep, and 0.3 acres of Grade B sedge meadow. Over the past 2 years, intensive management has been initiated to remove undesirable trees and shrubs, increase sunlight, and promote the restoration of the wetlands and the historic oak-hickory grove that existed prior to European settlement.
Please note this tour’s trail is rated as difficult.
Locations and directions will be provided when you register.
Don't miss our other Conservation Tours:
Cindy Owsley – Forest Tour: Helping Forests Dance
May 3 • 2:00–4:00 PM Explore a 38‑acre restoration project where invasive species have been removed, and native woodland plants are returning. This half‑mile hike highlights woodland management techniques, a 20‑year‑old Conservation Reserve planting, and the journey to restore healthy forests. S’mores around the campfire follow the tour. Cap: 35
Patrick & Mercedes Heles – Home Garden Tour
May 30 • 3:00–4:30 PM A whimsical, storybook‑inspired home garden filled with native and locally suited plants. This low‑impact, pollinator‑friendly landscape blends years of thoughtful planting with rare specimens inherited from the home’s former horticulturist owners. Cap: 20
Barrie McVey – Tree Farm Tour & Picnic
June 6 • 10:00 AM–1:30 PM Visit a long‑established certified Tree Farm featuring forest management practices, invasive species control, pollinator plots, a Chinese chestnut orchard, and a pumpkin patch. Bring a sack lunch for the midday break. Cap: 35
Carey Boehm‑Corrie – Native Lawnscaping Tour
June 13 • 10:00 AM–12:00 PM Tour a home landscape built on former strip‑mine ground and transformed over 23 years with native trees, shrubs, prairie plants, aquatics, and perennials. A great example of resilient, habitat‑focused landscaping. Cap: 30
Giving Gardens – Project Insight Garden Tour
June 20 • 8:00–9:30 AM Learn how Giving Gardens supports community food access through public‑harvest gardens. Explore the Project Insight Giving Garden and discover how these spaces strengthen neighborhoods and increase local food abundance. Cap: None
Brent Fowler – Curtis Farm Wagon Tour
July 4 • 9:00–11:00 AM Ride through prairie and pollinator plantings established to support bobwhite quail and other wildlife. See how 135 acres of habitat and 30 miles of field edges are managed for conservation success. Restrooms available. Cap: 40
Trevor Toland – Cattle Farm Wagon Tour: Conservation of Working Lands with Regenerative Grazing
July 18 • 8:30–11:00 AM Tour River Oak Ranch and see one of Illinois’ leading regenerative grazing operations. Learn how conservation practices and intensive grazing management support soil health, livestock, and long‑term land resilience. Cap: 50
Angella Moorehouse – Short Fork Seep Tour
August 7 • 5:00–6:30 PM Explore a high‑quality 42‑acre Illinois Nature Preserve featuring Grade B seep and sedge meadow wetlands. Learn about recent restoration efforts to revive sunlight, hydrology, and the historic oak‑hickory community. Trail rated difficult. Cap: 25
Brent Fowler – Sapp Farm Wagon Tour
August 22 • 9:00–11:00 AM Another chance to tour Brent Fowler’s prairie and pollinator habitat work, with a focus on wildlife restoration—especially bobwhite quail. Enjoy the scenery and learn practical habitat‑building strategies. Restrooms available. Cap: 40
Prairie Land Conservancy – Mindfulness Walk at Stony Hills Nature Preserve
September 5 • 10:00 AM–12:00 PM A guided mindfulness walk through a 200‑acre preserve near the Mississippi River. Slow down, observe nature, and experience the health benefits of time outdoors. Trails are mowed grass with easy to moderate terrain. Cap: 35
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