Land Conservancy kicks off fundraising challenge to raise $15,000 for Wolf Oak Woods
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County has announced a campaign to raise funds to make the final mortgage payment on Wolf Oak Wood near Woodstock.
Currently, $30,000 remains on the mortgage. The nonprofit bought Wolf Oak Woods in 2017 for $225,000.
Donors have pledged $15,000 in matching funds if The Land Conservancy receives the remaining $15,000 from members of the public by Monday, Sept. 30.
Gifts can be made online via the website Donorvest.com or checks can be mailed to: TLC/Wolf Oak Woods, P.O. Box 352 Woodstock, IL 60098.
Wolf Oak Woods is a 30-acre site located along Route 120 near Woodstock.
The site is best known to passersby for the Wolf Oak, a 350-year-old oak tree. It stands 30 feet tall and 5 feet wide with branches that swoop down to the ground and back up again. To put it in perspective, the Wolf Oak was here before the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.
Thousands of people drive past the Wolf Oak each day. Its highly visible location is an opportunity to teach people about the natural history of the region and the ecological issues of today, as well as experiencing the beauty of nature.
Wolf Oak Woods is more than trees! The site is also home to wetland, savanna, sedge meadow and a bluff.
Oak woods are critical to the McHenry County landscape. When the U.S. government surveyed McHenry County in 1837, over 40 percent of the land was oak savannas and oak woods.
Now only 4 percent remains. Oak trees play an important role in the McHenry County landscape, providing food and habitat for wildlife, storing carbon, as well providing shade and beauty.
It's a snapshot of what the natural landscape in McHenry County once was. The Land Conservancy and dedicated volunteers are transforming Wolf Oak Woods into an ambassador site for oak conservation.
You can help preserve and restore one of our county's oldest natural landmarks, and make McHenry County a better place for generations to come!
If you'd like to contribute to the Wolf Oak Woods campaign, visit Donorvest.com, or contact TLC by calling (815) 337-9502, or mailing a check to TLC/Wolf Oak Woods, P.O. Box 352 Woodstock, IL 60098.
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is a member-based, private nonprofit dedicated to preserving natural, scenic and agricultural land.
Workdays are a way to get out in nature with other friendly faces. Wolf Oak workdays are every Wednesday, except the last Wednesday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon. Land restoration involves hauling and burning brush on the site and removing invasive species. Wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes for walking over uneven ground. No need to sign up, just show up! Visit the TLC calendar for more information on workdays.
Visit www.facebook.com/ConserveMC/.