Donate acorns, hickory nuts to Kane Forest Preserve District

Looking for something to do with all those acorns and hickory nuts on your lawn? Bring them to the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.The Forest Preserve District is in need of acorns and hickory nuts #8212; lots of them. Specifically, our natural resources staff is collecting acorns from White and Black oaks as well as nuts from Shagbark hickories. Staff will then grow trees from the seeds to later plant in the preserves.If you have large, old trees that are dropping abundant acorns or hickory nuts, sweep up the intact ones and put them in a brown paper bag. Avoid plastic bags as the seed could mold. Pick out leaves, grass and twigs before bagging. On the bag, write the tree type, your address, and the date seed was collected. Bags of seed may be dropped off at Forest Preserve District headquarters at 1996 S. Kirk Road, Suite 320, Geneva; or call the office at (630) 232-5980 to arrange a pickup.White oaks are not reproducing well in the wild due to various factors including shading in the woods, loss of habitat and disease. #147;To give these areas a boost, the district is now growing trees from seed,#148; said Director of Natural Resources Drew Ullberg. #147;Each year, the Forest Preserve District plants roughly 10,000 oak saplings. We currently have over 3,000 acres that need trees, and we can definitely put the seed to good use,#148; Ullberg said.The district will accept acorn and hickory nut donations through Friday, Oct. 7.For details, visit www.kaneforest.com. #8212; Valerie Blaine