RESTORATION WORK BEGINS AT SWANSEA CLINTON HILLS CONSERVATION PARK Changes to the Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation Park will be visible to park-goers this September. HeartLands Conservancy has begun transforming a 6-acre section of the park thanks to a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. During this first phase, 4-acres of grass will be removed so native wildflowers can develop without competition. “It will be a little unsightly at first,” said Sarah Vogt, Conservation Manager for HeartLands Conservancy, “but the beautiful field of flowers and the wildlife they attract will be worth the wait.” Besides being beautiful, the wildflowers that will begin developing on the site next spring will come with various ecological benefits. The types selected have evolved in our region over millennia, so they are perfectly suited for our climate and are excellent food sources for wildlife like birds and butterflies. The plants will also be drought-tolerant, requiring less watering than most non-native flowers. This is the first step in the process of creating an outdoor learning space for the community. Another project starting this fall will be the installation of a rain garden, which is funded by a grant from American Water Community Foundation. Rain gardens capture and temporarily hold rainwater to be slowly absorbed into the ground and used by surrounding plants. This practice prevents rainwater from running across the surface to the nearest storm drain or creek, reducing flooding and erosion. The rain garden will be the beginning of an Outdoor Classroom feature called “A Rain Drop’s Journey.” Educational signs will allow visitors to follow the path of a raindrop from the roof to the lake and explain how rainwater eventually becomes drinking water.
The Outdoor Classroom at Clinton Hills, a portion of the park leased by Heartlands Conservancy, will be used for outdoor education and programs for people of all ages. Plans for the site include creating pollinator meadows, rain gardens, walking paths, a plaza, and demonstration planting beds, among other features. 3 North High Street Belleville, IL 62220 T: 618.566.4451 www.heartlandsconservancy.org More information about the HeartLands Conservancy Outdoor Classroom will be available from 12:00 pm-3:00 pm on Saturday, September 26 during the organization’s Fall Native Plant, Rain Barrel, & Composter Sale order pick-up. Staff will be present to show visitors the site plan at the Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation Park pavilion. The inaugural sale helps fund projects like the Outdoor Classroom and other conservation efforts in southwestern Illinois. If you are interested in purchasing items, please visit: www.heartlandsconservancy.org and click SHOP on the homepage. ABOUT HEARTLANDS CONSERVANCY Established in 1989, HeartLands Conservancy is a nonprofit organization serving southwestern Illinois. The organization works in partnership with landowners and communities to achieve its mission of conserving, connecting and restoring natural and cultural resources to sustain the communities of southwestern Illinois. To date, the organization has preserved nearly 10,000 acres of farms and natural areas and invested more than $35 million toward cleaner water and air in the region. For more information, contact: Landon Brooks | Communications & Engagement Manager, HeartLands Conservancy 3 N. High Street | Belleville, IL 62220 Office: 618.566.4451 ext 28 | Cell: 618.231.4624 | landon.brooks@ heartlandsconservancy.org
