City of McHenry and The Land Conservancy of McHenry County host Oak Rescue at Petersen Park

The City of McHenry and The Land Conservancy of McHenry County invite members of the community to an Oak Rescue at Petersen Park, 4300 Petersen Park Road in McHenry, from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, March 19.

An oak rescue is an event in which a group of people work to clear the brush that surrounds an old oak tree.

Volunteers are needed to cut the brush with saws and loppers, while others stack the cut brush into piles for burning.

The result is that the oak trees are left in much better condition, with room to grow and space cleared for their acorns to grow into more oak trees.

No experience is necessary to participate in the oak rescue.

Participants are encouraged to wear proper shoes and clothes that can get dirty - on occasion a spark may burn a hole in outerwear. Participants are also encouraged to bring work gloves and drinking water. Tools and refreshments will be provided.

Petersen Park is a lakeside park with baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, play areas and picnic facilities. There are also two acres of oak trees on the property, which backs to a residential area.

The oak rescue is an opportunity for people to spend a few hours outdoors, meet new people and help improve a popular McHenry County park by preserving its oak trees.

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is a member-based private nonprofit dedicated to preserving natural, scenic and agricultural land.

Since 1991, The Land Conservancy has helped protect over 2,500 acres of McHenry County's prairies, wetlands and woodlands by working with private landowners, communities and other partners. They do this by accepting donated conservation easements and direct acquisition of property (through purchase or donation).

For information, visit www.conservemc.org or www.facebook.com/ConserveMC/.