Black Jack Battlefield Prairie Restoration Project
Ending in June 2022, Grassland Heritage Foundation, Native Lands Restoration Collaborative (formerly Native Lands, LLC), Jayhawk Audubon Society and Black Jack Battlefield Trust completed a prairie restoration project at Black Jack Battlefield and Nature Park, a National Historic Landmark just outside of Baldwin City, KS. This project was funded thanks to a grant from the Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council. With the help of many volunteers, we have removed invasive plants and trees, planted in hundreds of native plants and grasses, and collected and dispersed seed from the nearby Ivan Boyd Prairie. The result of this work has created a new prairie planting site, located just off of the parking lot of the park, and we have helped to revive the original prairie located on the north western part of the property. In addition to the ecological restoration work, we brought dozens of volunteers to the site, hosted community education events, and installed educational signage at the prairie planting site.
Continued Maintenance at Black Jack
Following this project, Grassland Heritage Foundation, in partnership with Native Lands Restoration Collaborative is continuing to support prairie maintenance work at Black Jack. We will be hosting two workdays a year, one in the spring and one in the fall, to keep up on invasive species control and help our newly planted prairie thrive.
Fall 2023 Workday
Join us this fall on Saturday, November 04 from 9 am to Noon to remove invasive black locusts from the prairie at Black Jack Battlefield & Nature Park! We will work in the prairie restoration adjacent to the parking area. GHF & Black Jack will provide tools, light work gloves, water and education and guidance on how to complete the work in a safe and effective manner. No experience is needed, and all ages are welcome! If you are interested in attending, please RSVP by clicking the button below. We are excited to see you there!
Black Jack Battlefield is located at 163 E 2000 Rd, Wellsville, KS 66092 (https://goo.gl/maps/8UseyDCLp5d634XJ8).
Please make sure that you come prepared for working outdoors. This includes bringing a water bottle, snacks, bug spray, sun block, and a hat. Be sure to wear long pants and sturdy, close-toed shoes.