Restore Will County grants boost restoration projects
- The Nature Foundation of Will County
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
Grants are made possible by Foundation's fundraising efforts
Since 2017, The Nature Foundation of Will County has awarded $25,347 in Restore Will County grants to help fund restoration work as part of the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s commitment to land stewardship.
Funding for the grants comes from the Foundation’s fundraising efforts, and annual awards are granted based on applications that are reviewed by both the Foundation and Forest Preserve.
This year, John Fuqua, a volunteer site steward, received $500 for his restoration work Hammel Woods and the Forest Preserve’s natural resource management team received $2,000 to fund Habitat Management Mornings at various preserves. Tara Neff, executive director of the Foundation, awarded the grants at the Forest Preserve’s volunteer banquet on April 3.
Fuqua has received Restore Will County grants for the past few years and said it allows him to accelerate progress on his restoration work. In the past, he has used the funds to purchase equipment to burn brush piles and personal protective equipment. This year, he plans to purchase native seed to disperse at Hammel Woods.
His work to remove invasive species and open up the viewshed along the trail in the southern end of the preserve started about three years ago. As part of his efforts to improve the health of the forest floor, he has also removed some of the taller trees to thin out the tree canopy to allow sunlight through.
He said he’s at a stage now where he plans to re-establish some native species in the understory. Because seeds from the invasive plants are part of the seedbank, efforts to control buckthorn and honeysuckle will continue into the future.
“I’ve come to the realization that it’s probably never going to be done,” he said, chuckling, as he talked about the progress he’s made and what’s left to do.
Fuqua, who was honored as the Forest Preserve’s 2024 Volunteer of the Year, said he tries work at Hammel Woods at least a few times a month. Sometimes he works alone, but he’s also worked with others, including through coordinated public Habitat Management Mornings with the Forest Preserve.
To ensure his work at Hammel Woods aligns with the Forest Preserve’s goals for the site, Fuqua meets with Julie Bozzo, natural resource management crew leader for the Forest Preserve. They monitor his progress and make decisions about next steps or changes the work plan, Fuqua said.
“We provide direction and discuss goals for the site, and they carry out the associated restoration work independently,” Bozzo said of the partnership between the Forest Preserve and site stewards.
Bozzo accepted a $2,000 Restore Will County grant to purchase equipment such as loppers, pump sprayers and fencing pliers used by volunteers at Habitat Management Mornings and native seed to disperse in areas where invasive species have been removed.
“Together, removing invasive species and re-establishing native plants are essential for restoration work to be successful,” she said.
The work performed at Habitat Management Mornings is largely carried out by volunteers, with assistance and oversight from Forest Preserve staff.
“We are benefitting the community by enhancing local spaces through restoration and providing opportunities for patrons to be involved in this process,” Bozzo said. “We are restoring and creating beautiful, natural spaces for members of the community to experience and enjoy.”
Want to get involved in habitat restoration in the forest preserves? Look for upcoming Habitat Management Mornings on the event calendar on the Forest Preserve website.