Another incremental step to eradicate buckthorn in Glenmore Woods will continue on the week of February 11, 2019 in conjunction with the Lake County Forest Preserve. The board voted to clear the buckthorn in the area shaded in red in the diagram. The area totals about 6.7 acres. We chose this area based on our budget and aesthetic appeal. The Lake County Forest Preserve will be working with a contractor to do this clearing.
Clearing involves the red area of all invasive trees and shrubs is almost always the first step to restoring a site. Sites that have not been managed over the years will always have woody invasive growth, most commonly buckthorn and honeysuckle, shading out the herbaceous layer. These species both block out sunlight, which does not allow any other plants or trees to grow, as well as become so dense that it renders the area unusable.
In addition to clearing, stewardship is also required. Stewardship is the process of maintaining a natural area over time. This is an ongoing process that will always be necessary for the long-term health of your natural areas. Stewardship encompasses cutting, pulling and herbiciding services to ensure that your natural areas remain in good condition. There will always be unwanted weeds in and around natural areas; however, keeping them at bay is possible. In the early years of restoration, this will be a time consuming and daunting process. As time goes on, and burning and seeding become effective, the amount of time need to steward a site will diminish. It is crucial that the people performing these tasks are trained to distinguish between native and alien plants and that all personnel involved in herbicide activities do so safely and legally. Our contractors will provide cutting, pulling and herbiciding services to ensure that your natural areas remain in good condition.
We will continue to provide stewardships to Areas 1, 2 and 3 as well, but somewhat diminished due to budget constraints. There will be 3 stewardships on Area 1 in 2019, and 2 stewardships on Areas 2 and 3 each. In the fall, there will be a controlled burn of the red area.