The Land Conservancy Hosts Woodstock Hikes Oct. 27

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County (TLC) is hosting Wild Woodstock Walks: Fall Beauty in the Woods at three Woodstock locations on Saturday, Oct. 27. The event is free, and no registration is required. Participants are welcome to join one hike or all three.

The first hike takes place at 9:00 a.m. at Donato Conservation Area, at the 700 block of Ridgeland Ave. in Woodstock. Donato is home to a mature oak woodland. Students from Woodstock High School have been working hard to remove invasive species, increase the amount of native species and build a trail around the wetland. The large wetland provides a habitat for birds like sandhill cranes, turtles and frogs. Participants can view Donato's scenery from its hiking trails, wooden overlooks, bridges and boardwalks.

The second hike takes place at 10:30 a.m. at Ryders Woods, 700 Kimball Ave., in Woodstock. This woodland has been preserved for many years and includes ancient oaks, a pond, wildflowers and woodland grasses. The area has rolling glacial topography and a maintained trail system that winds around the hills, providing great vistas.

The third hike takes place at 12:00 p.m. at Hennen Conservation Area, 4622 Dean St., in Woodstock. Hennen is a blend of wetlands, prairie and savannas. The property was a farm field until the Hennen family purchased it in the 1970s and started planting trees. The land was later donated to the city of Woodstock to be made into a park, and the area has transitioned into a natural area with a diversity of trees and plants. Hennen is home to nesting green herons and at least two parasitic plants—Indian pipes and dodder.

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is a member-based private nonprofit dedicated to preserving natural, scenic and agricultural land.