PRESERVED! Artist Interview Series During a tour of a Scotland nature preserve in 2018, photographer Thomas Hegewald witnessed first hand the healing effect restoration projects can have on a landscape. The land he was touring had been used for commercial forestry and planted with nonnative trees....
PRESERVED! Artist Interview Series On a warm, sunny morning in late May, Jean Allemeier Boot sat on a bench in Roselle Park. She faced a wetland alive with birdsong and glowing with the vibrant greens of spring. Before her stood an easel and the beginnings of...
Shilin Hora grew up in a home surrounded by a peach farm, a pumpkin patch and a vineyard. The granddaughter of a farmer, she spent much of her childhood interacting with nature. “When you’re working with produce, picking at berries, you’re always looking at the minute—looking...
West Michigan’s diverse terrain means explorers have an exciting variety of environments to discover. Climb dunes, trek through forests or find peace in the prairie. Hiking the trails at these three nature preserves will give you a taste of just how biodiverse our home is. Flower...
With support from the community, The Highlands property acquisition and initial restoration projects have been funded. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. (May 15, 2019) -- The Land Conservancy of West Michigan has successfully completed the Phase One campaign for The Highlands. The future of the former golf course...
Preserved! is back! We are excited to announce the launch of the third edition of this collaboration with local artists to capture the beauty of the West Michigan natural areas we protect. This year, we are working with 16 artists with ties to our West Michigan...
Oak savannas (sometimes called oak barrens or oak openings) are transitional habitats between tallgrass prairies and oak forests. They tend to be very diverse because they contain both forest and prairie species. Oak savannas are maintained by periodic fire, which encourages oak regeneration but keeps...
We are finally inching toward more spring-like conditions here in West Michigan, and what better way to usher them in than with some daydreaming about native plant gardening? There are already sales happening throughout our service area. Browse plant catalogs, place your orders and mark...
Sand dunes, forests, wetlands, and streams—all contribute to the character and appeal of Hamlin Lake. Located just north of Ludington, this 5,000 acre lake is fed by the Big Sable River. In recent months, two separate conservation projects collectively protected over 300 acres of the...