Though the focus of this pilot program is buckthorn removal, the initiative educates the public on the negative impact all invasive species have on our ecosystems and inspires change in behaviors and practices.
When it comes to buckthorn removal, the difference across property lines is often stark. To effectively control buckthorn in Lake County, efforts must go beyond forest preserve boundaries. We are enlisting help from homeowners and landscapers to battle buckthorn and create a healthy, more diverse urban landscape.
In 2017, we distributed a survey to homeowners around Middlefork Savanna to research the best ways to eradicate buckthorn and support native landscapes. The results are enhancing outreach efforts, focusing restoration activities, and informing similar projects throughout the Chicago region. Read the report here.
You can join the movement, too. We invite all Lake County residents to help. Several homeowners have already volunteered to help eradicate buckthorn. Whether they have removed buckthorn from their yard or are simply considering it, every resident who participates will benefit the community.
Looking ahead, we will distribute resources to help assess your yard, plus tips to remove buckthorn, landscape with native plants, and get further involved with this effort toward an even more beautiful, healthy Lake County.