Master
Volunteers’ involvement at Mason Tree Nursery expands to help eight-state
Project Wingspan
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[September 03, 2019]
University of Illinois Extension,
Fulton-Mason-Peoria-Tazewell Unit, Master Naturalists and Masters
Gardeners have become involved in a partnership among the Illinois
Department Natural Resources (IDNR), Mason State Tree Nursery, and
Pollinator Partnership in an effort to enhance land across the
Midwest to support our imperiled pollinators. |
The goal of Project Wingspan is to increase
monarch and Rusty Patched Bumble Bee habitat in hopes of seeing an
increase in their quickly declining populations.
Dave Horvath, Manager, IDNR, Mason State Nursery, reached out to
local Extension staff for support from Master Naturalists and Master
Gardeners, in promoting Pollinator Partnership’s, Project Wingspan.
Horvath stated, “Teaming up with the University of Illinois
Extension - Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners will provide the
project with individuals that have the knowledge, skills, and
abilities to help accomplish the task of improving habitat for the
Monarch Butterfly as well as all pollinators.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/Aug/31/images/ads/current/hartsburggrain_sda_2019.png)
Project Wingspan is a two-year project by the Pollinator
Partnership, who is leading a coalition of partners, public land
managers, and private landowners. The project volunteers will be
collecting seed throughout the states of Arkansas, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Michigan. The Mason
State Tree Nursery is a core partner and the seed collection center
for the whole 8-state Project Wingspan program. Trained volunteers
throughout the Midwest hand collect seed and ship them to the
nursery to be cleaned, planted, and redistributed back to collected
areas. Local Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists who regularly
volunteer at Mason State Tree Nursery will be able to assist with
the cleaning and planting tasks. [to top of second
column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/Aug/31/images/ads/current/rohlfs_lda_072017.png)
In June, the Mason State Tree Nursery hosted a seed collection
workshop to train local volunteers, public land managers, and private
landowners. The workshop aimed to train participants in seed collection methods
and plant identification. Over 40 people were in attendance including IDNR
staff, Illinois Central College students and instructor, U of I Extension staff
and Extension Master Volunteers, as well as private landowners. Horvath said,
“It is great to see such a good response to the seed collection workshop. I am
looking forward to working with the Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners on
Project Wingspan.
Newly appointed IDNR Director Colleen Callahan participated in a portion of the
training at Mason State Tree Nursery. She was impressed by the turnout and
stressed that partnerships like this are important in accomplishing IDNR
conservation goals.
To learn more about how you can get involved in Project Wingspan visit
https://www.pollinator.org/wingspan
University of Illinois Extension is currently offering education courses open to
all adults: horticulture and naturalists. Contact Christine Belless,
cbelless @illinois.edu or
309-547-3711 for more information about these courses of the Master Naturalist
program.
[Anita Wilkinson
Communications Program Coordinator] |