Drivers passing Somme Prairie Nature Preserve in Northbrook on Saturday may have thought they stepped back in time. Volunteers wielded handheld scythes to manage invasive plant species.
Nearly 30 people gathered at the preserve on Dundee Road in the late afternoon on July 18. They participated in a Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves event aimed at cutting down invasive plants. By that evening, the air quality from Canadian wildfires had improved, with a moderate rating near 60. This allowed volunteers to work safely.
The mission of the day involved removing sawtooth sunflower and tall goldenrod. Rebeccah Hartz, a volunteer and assistant director of Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves, explained these plants are not woody like buckthorn. She noted, “Scythes are effective for cutting very low and precisely.”
Volunteers from northern Illinois planned to gather for a potluck after their efforts. They aimed to restore an endangered prairie plant, the eared false foxglove. Volunteer Ali Fakhari of Highland Park expressed excitement over this plant.
The group met at the post office at 5 p.m. and worked for two hours before pausing for a meal. Regular volunteer Stephen Packard, a conservationist and site steward for the nearby Somme Prairie Grove, participated in restoring the preserve from an overgrown buckthorn forest.
“What happened here, this was all woods,” Packard said. “It was a degraded buckthorn woods.”
Packard remains eager for faster progress but acknowledges the positive impact of volunteers. “The forest preserve would be the first to say that,” he added.
While scythes aren’t common in suburban landscapes, volunteers like Imogene Asa found them effective. Volunteers Michael and Will Uhlemann learned traditional scything for the first time. John Jacobs, a volunteer from Evanston, appreciated the old-fashioned tool.
Volunteer Mick Dart acknowledged the mental and physical benefits of participating. Jordan Botezatu found personal healing through his work.
David Duncan handled invasive sweet clover, recognizing potential challenges if neglected. During the shared meal, Christos Economou reflected on the positivity of contributing to the environment.
“It’s rare that you get to participate in something positive for the environment,” Economou said. “This is kind of like playing offense.”