JDCF Protects Iconic Stockton Area Landmark

Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (JDCF) recently acquired 70 wooded acres southeast of Stockton. Adjacent to the 335-acre Wards Grove Nature Preserve, JDCF’s acquisition creates a more than 400-acre complex of conserved land that will never be developed and will always be open to the public for outdoor enjoyment.

According to the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, “Its large size, unbroken canopy, mature understory, and position with respect to other regional forested areas, make Wards Grove a very valuable site for area-sensitive bird species. Acadian flycatcher, ovenbird, American redst...