Sugar Grove habitat restoration work seeks volunteers Saturday

A habitat restoration work day will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 28, at Bliss Woods Nature Preserve in Sugar Grove.

In the 1830s, several pioneers from the East Coast arrived in what is now Sugar Grove. They camped in a woods now called Bliss Woods. The woods reminded them of the homes they had left behind. The surrounding prairie, on the other hand, seemed desolate and inhospitable.

Now, 175 years later, the prairie has been turned into farm fields and homes. The woods, however, although not so extensive, are still intact. It was because of the foresight of early Kane County Forest Preserve Commissioners who established the Kane County Forest Preserve District in the 1920s. In 1928, Bliss Woods became the second site purchased by that new district. Bliss Woods was already a popular gathering place for picnicking and wildflower enjoyment for the locals and people from nearby Aurora. For a time, there was even an electric trolley that brought families and nature lovers out from surrounding communities.

Bliss Woods is still beautiful and popular. It does have some threats, however. One of the main threats is invasive species. These are plants whose origins are on other continents but have been introduced into the United States for any number of reasons. Some of these introduced plants do not survive and others survive but do not spread. A small number of alien plant populations explode and negatively impact native habitats. Buckthorn, honeysuckle and garlic mustard are three of the unwelcome plants that have become a threat to Bliss Woods.

The Kane County Forest Preserve encourages volunteer groups, under the direction of staff, to remove these alien plants. Bliss Woods has an active volunteer group that meets on the fourth Saturday of each month, weather permitting. Activities are varied and can include, among others, seed collection of native plants, cutting and stacking of invasive trees and shrubs, and pulling garlic mustard.

The February work day will be special. Forest preserve staff will be present to cut buckthorn and honeysuckle with chain saws. Many hands will be needed to haul the branches and put them on a bonfire. This work day begins at 9 a.m. At noon, the bonfire will be used to cook hot dogs and marshmallows for the hungry workers.

Interested people should arrive wearing appropriate winter clothing. Layering is best as workers heat up fast. Nylon and other synthetic materials are not recommended because of the fire. Weather could be an issue and the work day will not be held in the rain, during a blizzard or with temperatures below 18 degrees.

Bliss Woods is located on Bliss Road, half-mile northeast of Route 47 in Sugar Grove. For information, call Mary at (630) 466-4922 or e-mail maryoxie@sbcglobal.net or call Julia at the Kane County Forest Preserve at (630) 232-5980.