Help preserve oak trees in McHenry County

Submitted by The Land Conservancy of McHenry County

Join The Land Conservancy of McHenry County for an “Oak Rescue.”

An Oak Rescue is a workday where oak-lovers get together on a winter day to clear invasive brush around some ancient oaks. Participants should dress for the weather. For details, email Melissa at mhormann@conservemc.org.

Two of the upcoming Oak Rescues will take place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and President’s Day.

The first event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Maguire’s Farm, 5507 Irish Lane, east of Harvard. From the intersection of Route 14 and McGuire Road in Harvard, take McGuire Road east 3.6 miles to Irish Lane. Turn north on Irish Lane, then a third of a mile to the farm on the west side of the road.

Join volunteers from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 25, at Harvard Gateway Park, 22000 Heritage Lane. From the intersection of Routes 23 and 14 in Harvard, go south on Route 23 and take the first right onto Heritage Lane. Take the first right again onto Marengo Road, and pull over onto the side of the road.

The next event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, at Van Maren’s Woods, 20202 Lembcke Road, south of Harvard. Lembcke Road is approximately 2½ miles south of Harvard. Take Route 14 to Lembcke Road. Go west on Lembcke Road 1.2 miles. The woodland is on the north side of the road. There is no residence, so watch for signs.

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. For information, visit www.conservemc.org.

Since 1991, The Land Conservancy has helped protect more than 1,900 acres of McHenry County’s prairies, wetlands and woodlands by working with private landowners, communities and other partners. They do this by direct acquisition of property (through purchase or donation), or the establishment of conservation easements.