New Day Nature Trails
Land Restoration Project

We had a small trail on our land for a long time. We have been delighted to share it with our neighbors over the years. It has been home to the Carnival Trail event in October and the prayer & meditation guides (signposts) throughout the year. What a thrill to expand from one small trail to over a mile of trails! We call it New Day Nature Trails.

Feel free to walk the trails—maybe you or your friends already have! Three years of restoration are complete! We now have areas of prairie grasses and wildflowers, a section containing a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees, and a couple of wooded “openings.” New Day Nature Trails will continue to improve as the new plantings mature. We look forward to many years of sharing God’s amazing creation with our neighborhood.

In 2022, we completed Phase 1 of the restoration, including:

• Invasive species clearing and treatments

• Clearing the prairie opening for restoration & planting

In 2023, we completed Phase 2 of the restoration, including:

• Creation of the bird sanctuary with feeders, birdbath, and seating for bird watchers

• Establishing the new walking trails

• Invasive species clearing and treatments

• Planting of a cover crop (temporary grasses to compete with the invasives)

• Sapling plantings (over 40 flowering trees planted in May of 2023)

• Tree plantings (10 white pine and 10 oak trees planted in October of 2023)

• Tree removals (mostly diseased trees, fallen trees, and those outside the scope of the prairie management plan)

In 2024, we completed Phase 3, including the following milestones:

• Smoothing trails & planting them with clover

• Installing 20 Bur Oak trees (mostly in and around the prairie)

• Planting native grasses & wildflowers

• Continuing to mow & treat invasive species