Forest preserve district offers free wood chips

Looking for free wood chips for landscaping? The Forest Preserve District of Kane County has plenty to offer during back-to-back days at the end of April.

Wood chips will be available for pick-up at two locations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 29, and Sunday, April 30, at Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin and Big Rock Forest Preserve in Big Rock.

The district will have staff available to help load with a tractor at both sites from 8 a.m. to noon on both days.

Chips are available on a first-come, first-served basis until supplies run out.

Residents need to bring their own shovels and containers in order to load chips from noon to 5 p.m. The public cannot bring in their own powered equipment for loading.

The public is welcome to take as many wood chips as they can haul away. Signs within both preserves will direct people to the pile location.

The chips are from hardwood trees removed throughout Kane County because of storm damage or clearing efforts. None of the wood chips are from ash trees.

Burnidge Forest Preserve is at 14N035 Coombs Road, Elgin. Big Rock Forest Preserve is 46W072 Jericho Road, Big Rock.

For more information, call the Forest Preserve District of Kane County at (630) 232-5980.

To view the full roster of forest preserve district nature programs, visit www.kaneforest.com. Follow them on Facebook or Twitter.