Friendship Village resident recognize for conservation practices

On May 23, Friendship Village resident Herb Demmel was presented with a Conservation@Home certification by the Barrington Area Conservation Trust (BACT). The certification recognizes the efforts of Herb, and Friendship Village's support of a remnant of property known as Sarah's Grove. Friendship Village is a leading Chicago-area retirement community offering a complete continuum of care for older adults. The 60-acre campus in Schaumburg is located adjacent to Sarah's Grove.

Herb is a long-time volunteer in prairie and woodland restoration. Through the years, he has volunteered with Kane County Forest Preserve and now, for Friendship Village.

Formerly a resident of Bartlett, Herb said that he has been volunteering for more than 30 years. He recalled that for many years he often worked at night and had free time during the daylight hours, so decided to put that time to good use. "It gave me a way to meet a lot of people, and be outdoors, which I like," he said.

At Friendship Village, Herb served as the chairman of the Land Stewardship Committee for nine years. He was responsible for the installation and much of the maintenance of the community's koi ponds and also helped establish its butterfly garden, planting flowers that attract butterflies, hummingbirds and bees.

Herb volunteers extensively in Friendship Woods, which is adjacent to Friendship Village, and is the largest remaining remnant of Sarah's Grove. He clears weeds and non-native trees and plants, spreads wildflower seeds, and clears paths to allow easier passage through the woods.

Herb gives nature walk lectures to residents and associates of Friendship Village monthly, and partners with local environmental groups to provide tours of area native plantings.

Over the winter months Herb spent hours at the Schaumburg Library, compiling PowerPoint presentations on the woods at Friendship Village, and on the oak trees and flowers surrounding the campus. With the arrival of warmer weather, Herb said, "I'm going to spend most of my time working in the woods."

"Since we at the BACT do a great deal of habitat restoration on the properties we preserve, we know firsthand how labor intensive it is to take care of a natural area remnant like Sarah's Grove. Herb is an extraordinary person to have put such loving care and endless hours of restoration work into the property over the years. The incredible high quality of this property is a true give to the community," said Lisa Woolford, executive director of BACT.

Earlier this spring, Herb was presented with a certificate of appreciation by the current Land Stewardship Committee at Friendship Village.

Friendship Village

Friendship Village is a leading Chicago-area retirement community offering a complete continuum of care including independent living garden homes and apartment homes, as well as assisted living, memory support, skilled care, and short- and long-term rehabilitation services. For more than 38 years, Friendship Village has been providing Chicago area seniors with exceptional retirement living options. For additional information visit www.FriendshipVillage.org