Earth Day April 16, 2011 and Clean Up Success

Through a light drizzle and brisk cool wind four bold and intrepid volunteers, organized by the Valley of the Fox Sierra club and Friends of Big Woods Preserve, scoured the open grassland and a watery wetland lake to collect trash from the natural area. The usual items of plastic and glass bottles, paper, and other garbage was removed along with large landscape timbers discarded in the grasses as well as condoms, alcohol beverage containers, and large cardboard boxes.

Removing these items not only restores a sense of cleanliness and civility to the community but also, and very importantly, protects wildlife that might otherwise ingest harmful objects or get entangled in plastic bags, sacks, or, in one case, a discarded cookie cutter. Trash can also affect the flora of the preserve by changing soil composition through pollution, compact soil so new shoots can not emerge, prevent sunlight from reaching plants, and remaining as none decomposable eyesores. See example of what can happen to turtles trapped by garbage (Buck, 2009). Follow link below.

                          Don’t wait for Earth Day to pick up trash.

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has many volunteer opportunities for participation in clean up days. The Friends of Big Woods will continue to organize clean up days for Big Woods. However, if it is safe to do so, pick up litter and trash as you find it. Better yet, prevent trash from getting into the preserve by making sure recyclables cannot be blown out of the bin on windy days. Secure trash cans as well.  Bring reusable cloth bags for shopping which will greatly reduce the litter from plastic bags. When done with out door activities, be sure to clean up food items including beverage containers. Make Everyday Earth Day.

 

Ranger Peterson, Terri V. and Mary H. with some of the trash collected.

Buck. (2009, April 24^th) Animal Welfare: Turtle deformed from six-pack plastic ring. The Conservation Report. Retrieved from http://conservationreport.com/2009/04/24/animal-welfare-turtle-deformed-by-being-trapped-in-a-six-pack-plastic-ring/

Update on Earth DayCelebrations

Since Earth Day falls on Good Friday this year we will celebrate Big Woods Preserve and honor the good earth Saturday, April 16th with a clean up day in collaboration with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and Valley of the Fox Sierra Club. Please join us.

In Celebration of EARTHDAY…

A special day to remember Earth’s tender seedlings of life and its people;

A day for planting trees and grass and flowers,

for cleaning streams, prairies, wetlands, and wooded glens.

7^th Annual Earthday 2011 Celebration & Big Woods Forest Preserve Cleanup

Sponsored by:

DuPage Forest Preserve District

Friends of the Big Woods

&

Sierra Club – Valley of the Fox

Where:  The Big Woods Forest Preserve

When: Saturday, April 16^th, 2011

Time:  9AM

Please meet in the backyard at 2651 Prairieview Lane South, Aurora, IL  

Gloves, bags and equipment provided

You are invited to a “Workers Hot Dog Lunch” Immediately Following Cleanup

Children must be accompanied by an adult

DPFP & VOF liability waiver must be signed to participate.

Rain date Sunday, April 17th

For further information call:  630-585-9212

Earth Day Activities

Earth Day is being celebrated on Friday, April 22nd 2011 and activities honoring Big Woods are being finalized. A clean up of the woods is planned. As a special addition to this years activities a display by a volunteer from Polar Bears International  highlighting trees and the relationship to Polar Bears will be available for view.  More information will be available in the next couple of days.

Welcome To Friends of Big Woods Preserve

Dear Friends,

Friends of Big Woods in its infancy as an  organization with the goal of enhancing the Big Woods Preserve as a biodiverse ecosystem that can be enjoyed by the community through ongoing discussion and education about the woods through providing volunteer opportunities and participatory activities that will connect residents and other interested individuals concerned about the Big Woods Preserve. You are encouraged to post comments and concerns in the form of inquiries. What questions do you have regarding the flora and fauna of the woods? How does Big Woods enhance your life? What knowledge do you have in regards to the history of Big Woods? What are your concerns? These are just a few examples of what we can explore and share together. We will work in collaboration with other environmental groups in co-operation with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County to ensure a rich experience as we go forward.