DuPage Forest Blog

Hidden History of the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Railroad

on 7/21/21 9:30 AM By | Wayne Zaininger and Jordan Countryman | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

Imagine commuting to Chicago by train in the morning only to discover without warning that same afternoon that your Metra line had closed and would never operate again.

Hidden History of Hidden Lake bridge

on 6/14/21 12:45 PM By | Keith McClow | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

On a breezy May afternoon, I stood on an old bridge that spans the East Branch DuPage River at Hidden Lake Forest Preserve in Downers Grove, talking to people as they crossed the bridge.

Hidden History of Glacial Ridge

on 6/2/21 8:48 AM By | Dave Andrusyk | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Plants Volunteer Conservation History

Churchill Woods Forest Preserve in Glen Ellyn is one of the DuPage Forest Preserve District’s most popular forest preserves.

The Hidden History of Fullersburg Woods

on 4/20/21 9:48 AM By | Abby Dean | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Recreation Take 5 Nature Group History

When you visit a DuPage forest preserve to connect with nature, you don’t often consider its history and how it came to be developed as a preserve.

Partnership Mussels Into Chicago River

on 4/9/21 8:35 AM By | Scott Meister | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Community partnership Wildlife Conservation

The DuPage Forest Preserve District recently embarked on a new and unique partnership with Urban Rivers, a nonprofit organization based in Chicago with a mission to transform city rivers into urban sanctuaries.

The Hidden History of Winfield Mounds

on 3/17/21 2:19 PM By | Jordan Countryman | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Conservation History

With the passage of time, nature disguises the land’s cultural legacy, covering the marks of human impact and often protecting the past with brush and vegetation, but this can also leave a legacy susceptible to human neglect.

Soak in the Solar

on 3/10/21 3:43 PM By | Dave Andrusyk | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Conservation Golf Willowbrook Living green

As we celebrate International Solar Appreciation Day on Friday, March 12, let’s look at the many ways we benefit from the sun and how we can harness its energy to help create clean sustainable energy.

Relocating Fish to a New Spring Brook

on 9/14/20 11:50 AM By | Scott Meister | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Wildlife Conservation Nature

Restoration of Spring Brook as it flows through Blackwell Forest Preserve includes building a new stream channel and removing a dam to provide better habitat and a gentler slope to allow fish to swim upstream.

Bee Informed About Native Bees

on 9/9/20 1:16 PM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Wildlife Conservation Nature native plant

Did you know Illinois is home to more than 500 species of native bees?

Walking in the Rain

on 9/2/20 8:35 AM By | Dave Andrusyk | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Trails Health and wellness Recreation Take 5 Nature

Have you ever planned a hiking trip at a DuPage forest preserve, only to find out that the sunny nice day you were planning has turned into a grey, rainy day?

Get Hooked on Fishing

on 8/4/20 10:51 AM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Health and wellness Recreation Take 5 Wildlife Nature fish

A lot of people are looking for fun things to do outdoors close to home. If you haven’t already, why not try fishing?

Where the Native Wild Things Are

on 7/22/20 12:56 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Plants Volunteer Wildlife Conservation Nature native plant Friends of the Forest Preserve District

Somewhere, in a relatively small section of Blackwell Forest Preserve nestled along Mack Road, lies a special place where native plants grow.

A Big Day

on 6/24/20 9:41 AM By | Glenn Perricone | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Recreation Wildlife Conservation Nature

Many DuPage County birdwatchers participate in a “Birding Big Day,” where they try to observe as many species of birds as possible in one day within a determined geographical location.

Restoring a Creek's Meander

on 3/18/20 4:19 PM By | Scott Meister | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Trails Natural resources Plants Wildlife Nature

For many years, Spring Brook — as it flows through Blackwell Forest Preserve — has been channelized. That is, water flowed within a straight, narrow channel, which led to erosion along the streambanks.

Women's Vote Helped Win the Case for DuPage Forest Preserves

on 3/9/20 3:12 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations

Women played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County nearly 105 years ago.

Donors' Gift Brings Horses to Danada Equestrian Center

on 3/5/20 12:15 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations horse Danada Equestrian Center Friends of the Forest Preserve District donate

Danada Equestrian Center recently welcomed two new additions to the herd, Percheron-quarter horses named Daisy (age 6) and Babe (age 5). The two mares’ arrival to the center were made possible by a generous $10,000 gift from Danada volunteer Jan Yong and husband Jack to the Friends of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, a 501(c)(3).

Kline Creek Farm Welcomes Cotswold Sheep into Fold

on 2/26/20 9:02 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations

The first Cotswold longwool lambs are being born at Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago, after the 1890s living history farm welcomed five ewes and a ram into its fold last fall.

Have Coin, Will Travel

on 2/11/20 1:58 PM By | Jennifer Rydzewski | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Recreation Group

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Ecologists Shed Light on Issues Facing Oaks

on 1/16/20 2:44 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Locations Natural resources Conservation Nature

Trail users at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve will soon see more forest through the trees along the southern portion of the preserve’s Green Heron trail.

Home for the Owl-idays

on 12/23/19 3:03 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Volunteer Wildlife Conservation Nature Rehabilitation

Thanks to the dedicated staff at the Forest Preserve District’s Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn, a now-healthy short-eared owl has made its way back home in the wild in time for the owl-idays. (Sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves with that one! What a hoot!)

Nature's Storytellers

A Blog About Nature in Our DuPage Forest Preserves