Restoring Native Meadows on the Preserve
Like much of North America, Georgia was historically covered in prairies- swathes of native grasslands and flower meadows blanketed rolling hills. The past few hundred years of rapid urbanization and fire suppression have significantly altered the once dominant prairie landscape to a now critically endangered ecosystem. Prairies are a cornerstone to the native species of Georgia, vital to the health of our natural world. On the Preserve we protect several acres of these native grasslands, but they’re in desperate need of refresh.
Ethan Shuval, a local biology student from Gwinnet College, answered the call to land stewardship, and is leading efforts in restoring our meadows through Blue Herons ongoing Prairie Restoration Project.
Ethan shared some words on what this project means to him below:
“Over the past few months, we’ve been focused on preparing the site for the restoration of a historic Piedmont prairie ecosystem. Thanks to the incredible support of our volunteers, clearing has been progressing very well. Together, we’ve been removing invasive species, unwanted vegetation, and accumulated debris while carefully preserving the native plants already established on the site. This work is laying the foundation for planting this fall.”
“This fall, we plan to install over 700 native plants representing more than 25 species historically found in Georgia’s Piedmont prairies. Some of the species include little bluestem, Indian grass, pink muhly grass, blue-eyed grass, butterfly milkweed, swamp milkweed, rattlesnake master, wild bergamot, wild quinine, Joe-Pye weed, golden alexanders, brown-eyed Susan, common yarrow, blue wild indigo, white wild indigo, obedient plant, eastern columbine, lyreleaf sage, Appalachian blazing star (Liatris squarrulosa), Georgia aster, swamp sunflower, coral honeysuckle, and many more.”
“The goal is to recreate a diverse native grassland that provides food and habitat for an incredible variety of wildlife, including native bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, hummingbirds, songbirds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and countless other beneficial insects. Just as importantly, the restoration will serve as an educational example of what much of Georgia’s Piedmont once looked like before urban development, agricultural conversion, fire suppression, and the loss of natural grazing by bison and elk caused these ecosystems to decline dramatically.”
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
Appalachian Blazing Star (Liatris squarrulosa)
“Overall, I’m incredibly excited about the project. Piedmont prairies are among Georgia’s rarest ecosystems today, yet they were once one of the most widespread natural ecosystems across the Georgia Piedmont. Restoring even a small piece of this lost landscape provides meaningful benefits for wildlife while creating a beautiful and educational space for visitors.”
Shuval ends his thoughts with a call to action for all of us:
“My hope is that this restoration not only enhances biodiversity at Blue Heron Nature Preserve but also inspires others to incorporate native plants into their own landscapes. Whether it’s replacing a portion of a lawn with native wildflowers and grasses, planting a native tree or shrub, creating a pollinator garden, or reducing pesticide use, everyone can make a meaningful difference. Even a small native planting can provide essential food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife while helping reconnect habitats across our communities.”
And by expressing gratitude for all the hardworking people volunteering their time and energy into this project.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the many volunteers and community groups who have dedicated their time and energy to this project so far. Their hard work has made tremendous progress possible, and we truly couldn’t accomplish a restoration of this scale without their support.”
Like everything on the Preserve, we couldn’t do it without our amazing volunteers and donors. We rely on community support to continue our mission; protect and uplift our native wildlife.
Want to Help Out?
Check out our upcoming volunteer events for our Prairie Restoration Project on Eventbrite!
Pre-registration helps us ensure we can tackle whatever portion of the project we’re working on that day.
The next volunteer event will occur on:
August 28th, 8:30am-11:30am
If you’re interested in volunteering, feel free to show up days listed, use the VOLUNTEER button below to add yourself to our volunteer list, or contact Ethan Shuval at [email protected].
VOLUNTEER
Help Nature Take Root
Restoring native habitat takes more than hard work. Your gift helps provide the native plants, tools and resources needed to restore meadows, control invasive species and protect wildlife habitat throughout the Preserve.
Choose “Conservation Programs” when you give and help keep Blue Heron wild.
