Shirley Heinze Land Trust will be holding a volunteer workday on Saturday, January 12, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Miller Dune Nature Preserve in the Miller beach community of Gary. Historically this site was much different from current conditions. Wildfires would burn periodically thru these high dune habitats allowing only fire-adapted species to thrive. In the absence of periodic fires, the herbaceous plant community, as well as, the tree canopy density has drastically changed. On this workday we will be using chainsaws, brush cutters and loppers to thin the tree canopy and feed cut limbs into a chipper. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP volunteer@heinzetrust.org or call (219) 879-4725, so we can plan accordingly.
Directions to site: From US HWY 12 take Lake St. North to Hemlock Ave. Turn right (east) on Hemlock to Grand Blvd. Turn left (north) on Grand to 1st intersection at Forest Ave. Turn right (east) on Forest and continue to Rush St. We will meet at the intersection of Forest and Rush (look for the “Volunteer Workday” sign).
Shirley Heinze Land Trust has been protecting natural land in the southern Lake Michigan watershed since 1981. It manages nearly 1,200 acres in Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties. Included in the Heinze Trust’s holdings are examples of the entire spectrum of natural communities in this area: tallgrass prairie, high dune, oak savanna, boreal flatwoods, dune-and-swale, woodlands, marshes, swamps, ponds, fens, and riparian habitat. Five Heinze Trust properties are dedicated Indiana State Nature Preserves. Shirley Heinze Land Trust is a well established organization preserving these natural areas for present and future generations to enjoy. For more information on Shirley Heinze Land Trust, consult its website www.heinzetrust.org and like them on Facebook.