Another Great Free Field Friday

LANSING, MICHIGAN — October 1, 2009 — The Nature Conservancy’s second annual Free Field Friday brought scientists and members together to explore the great outdoors. On Sept. 26, Conservation staff led participants on hikes of six protected places throughout Michigan, including long-time Conservancy preserves, places protected by partners and new areas of interest.

"Free Field Friday is a great opportunity for the public to see some of the unique areas where we work,” said Chris May, stewardship program manager. “Opportunities like this help people gain an understanding of the ecology of these areas and the threats to our natural resources."

May helped lead the hikes at Ives Road Fen Preserve in Lenawee County and said that everyone on the trip was excited to learn more about fens, floodplains and forests from Michigan’s top scientists and conservationists.

“The trip was both fascinating and informative,” said Ann Love, who also participated in the hike at Ives Road Fen Preserve. “It was amazing to see the effects of the hard work done by the staff and loyal volunteers to rid the fen of invasive species. Their dedication has paved the way for many beautiful native plants to flourish. I truly appreciated being able to experience such a special event.”

Love and 24 other members and Conservancy e-mail subscribers saw fringed gentian, enjoyed a chorus of migratory and breeding birds, and even caught a glimpse of a Blanchard’s cricket frog.

Other members, preserve neighbors and conservation-concerned citizens got a personal tour of these six preserves:

• Zetterberg Preserve at Point Betsie (Benzie County) – Hikers learned the importance of eradicating invasive plants in the Lake Michigan dunes
• Mary Macdonald Preserve at Horseshoe Harbor (Keweenaw County) – Upper Peninsula staff led participants through one of the largest and highest quality mainland preserves for bedrock beach and bedrock glade communities in Michigan.
• Barfield Lakes (Luce County) – Visitors explored remote lakes that are surrounded by a unique mix of forest and swamp at the extreme western end of the Two Hearted River Watershed.
• Fase Tract (Kent County) – Representatives of Cascade Township led a low-intensity hike through the property featuring high-quality oak-dominated forest, seeps and a small creek.
• Ives Road Fen Preserve (Lenawee County) – Land Steward Steve Woods led this ambitious hike through several increasingly rare ecosystems, including the wetland that empties into the River Raisin.
• Grass Bay Preserve (Cheboygan County) – Visitors toured this paradise along the Lake Huron Shoreline which houses a multitude of wildflowers and neotropical migrating birds.

Stay informed on how you can visit preserves, including volunteer stewardship opportunities, by subscribing to The Nature Conservancy’s free e-newsletter, Great Places Network.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.