Nonprofit conservation land trust, Grand Prairie Friends, has accepted perpetual ownership of two nature preserves in the (IL) Wabash Valley region from The Nature Conservancy. The transfer of Rocky Branch Nature Preserve (Marshall, IL) and Baber Woods Nature Preserve (Clarksville, IL) to Grand Prairie Friends reflects a shared commitment to keeping high-quality habitats in dedicated conservation ownership, with a focus on strong local management and community connection. Bo

Local non-profit Grand Prairie Friends (GPF) is thrilled to announce the purchase of Warbler Bend, a meandering 110 acres along the Embarras River in Coles County (IL). This purchase expands the Conservation Land Trust’s existing Warbler Ridge Conservation Area, now totaling almost 1,400 acres. Warbler Bend is GPF’s second property north of Highway 130, joining Warbler Bluff, located on Harrison St. Rd (Charleston). Over the last decade, GPF has restored more than 1,200 acres