Grant to help Lake Barrington replace invasive trees near village hall

Lake Barrington recently received a $7,000 grant from Open Lands and the ComEd Green Region Program to support its Healthy Hedges project, which will replace the buckthorn trees on Old Barrington Road.

Earlier this year, Cuba Township Road District volunteered to remove the invasive buckthorn trees adjacent to village hall along Old Barrington Road. With that work now complete, the village will use the grant funds to plant native hedges in place of the removed buckthorn and honeysuckle.

In addition to improving the community's environment, the grant will allow residents to see firsthand how native trees, shrubs and plants can serve as effective replacements for buckthorn and honeysuckle trees on their property.

The Lake Barrington/Countryside Park District, Citizens for Conservation, and the Flint Creek/Spring Creek Watershed Partnership also will assist Lake Barrington in completing the project.

"This important project will both improve the visual appearance along Old Barrington Road and provide a useful example for residents considering the removal of invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle from their own properties," Lake Barrington Village President Kevin Richardson said in an announcement of the grant. "Planting these hedges will go a long way in furthering the Village's mission of being an oasis of gracious countryside living."