Tree and brush thinning to begin at Freeman Kame

A tree and brush-thinning project will get under way at Freeman Kame Forest Preserve near Gilberts the week of Jan. 27.

This project is part of a multiyear effort to improve woodland conditions, reduce invasive brush, and improve conditions for oak regeneration in the Kane County forest preserve.

A contractor hired by the Forest Preserve District will thin the invasive trees and brush. The work area encompasses 30 acres of the Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls portion of the preserve, south of Freeman Road.

The thinning project will improve the woodlands by allowing more light to reach the woodland floor.

“Oak seedlings need bright sunlight to thrive. The woods are currently very dark — even in the midsummer sun,” said Drew Ullberg, director of natural resources for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.

Trees felled as part of this project will be reused to the fullest extent possible. Most of the trees removed will be ground into mulch by brush-mowing machines and left to decompose, thereby returning nutrients to the soil.

The entire preserve will be open during the project, however, residents visiting the site are asked to be mindful of contractors and machinery in the preserve.

For more information about the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, visit www.kaneforest.com.