Thatcher Woods Savanna Restoration Project

The Thatcher Woods Savanna Restoration Project is a community based organization formed in June, 1990 to restore "an ecosystem poised on the verge of extinction." Our volunteer efforts have been a turning point in restoring the oak savanna in GAR and Thomas Jefferson Woods to its pre- European settlement state. The project operates within the Volunteer Stewardship Network in a cooperative effort with the Cook County Forest Preserves District.

Natural Character
The Thatcher Woods River corridor represents a cross- section of the Des Plaines river valley in which the river flows over the sediment of the ancient lake plain of glacial Lake Chicago.

Within these Forest Preserves are excellent remnants of high quality flood plain forest. Many of the floodplain forest trees exceed one meter in diameter and may be among the largest examples in the Chicago region. The area is unique in that the natural communities of floodplain forest integrate with mesic (moisture balance) upland forest and mesic oak savanna in a contiguous landscape - showing the transitions of plant associations from the river floodplain to upland forest and savanna. This is especially evident in the GAR and Thomas Jefferson units.

Elevations reach 625 feet in the upland regions, dropping, sometimes abruptly, into the river floodplain reaching 610 feet along the river bank. Transitory ponds occur in glacial scars of the bottomland areas, while moisture conditions in the upland regions are balanced. Often times, where the foot paths cross natural scars or ravines in the landscape, muddy or flooding conditions exist.

Flora and Fauna
On the west side of the river in the Thatcher unit a remnant prairie exists in which the state-endangered small sundrops (Oenothera perennis) grows. In Thatcher Glen the state-endangered nodding trillium (Trillium cernuum) was recently discovered.

The GAR and Thomas Jefferson units contain floodplain forest and a mesic oak savanna having a large inventory of native Illinois plant species - indicating that this area is a high quality natural area of the Chicago region.

At least 45 bird species are nesting residents in this extensive forest habitat. They include the wood thrush, ovenbird, crested flycatcher, scarlet tanager, red-headed and red-bellied woodpeckers, black-billed and yellow-billed cuckoos, broad-winged hawk, kingfisher, great blue heron, and great horned owl.

The endangered sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus), veery (Catharus fuscescens), and red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) have been observed as nesting residents of the Thatcher Woods unit.

Volunteer activities
If you would like the perfect remedy to relieve stress in your life consider becoming a volunteer to help relieve the stresses on our natural areas. When you are in these natural areas, hidden from urbanization, you are "a million miles from Monday." You experience the ancient landscape with its indigenous plant communities like wild hyacinth, white and yellow trout lily, blue bells in the bottomland; and purple joe pye weed , bladder nut, bottlebrush grass, woodland sunflowers, and golden alexander under the oak canopy. And this therapy is free and close to home - we urge you to volunteer.

All you need is the desire - free training is available. We enjoy and learn from one another.