Trout Hollow Hill Prairie

Your tax-deductible contribution will go directly to this project as well as related community programming.

Trout Hollow Hill Prairie in Monroe County, Illinois, is a 15-acre prairie and forest preserve. It was established in 2024 thanks to more than 830 people from across the globe. 

The prairie and forest are being restored to support many types of wildlife, including badgers, bees, and bobcats. Migratory birds use the prairie and forested bluff lands as a resting spot during their journeys. Prairie plants like hairy mountain mint, hoary puccoon, and big bluestem are found here, too.  

From the prairie, you can see sweeping views of the rich farmland of the Mississippi River Valley and the stunning bluffs and forests around it.  

Less than 1% of Illinois’ prairies are left in our beautiful prairie state – and only 600 acres of hill prairies (i.e., prairies on bluffs like this one) remain. That’s smaller than New York’s Central Park. 

In the meantime, our pollinator populations are crashing, wildlife that depend on prairies and bluffs are declining, and extreme weather is causing additional stress on wildlife and humans.

Losing even one more acre of prairie is devastating, which is why restoration of the prairie began in winter 2024. Thanks to volunteers and community support, invasive plants have been removed to enlarge the prairie. We’ve made great progress, but there is much more to do to restore its original size. 

To continue momentum in expanding and restoring the prairie, and ensuring wildlife thrive, improvements include:

• Continued restoration of the prairie back to its original size by removing invasive plants that are shading the prairie and encouraging re-growth of the prairie’s grasses and wildflowers.
• Caring for the wildlife habitat to support the area’s badgers, birds, native bees and butterflies.
• To ensure safe and site-sensitive access for future visitors and volunteers, marking unpaved trails.  

Your tax-deductible contribution will go directly to this project as well as related community programming. With your support, we can complete the improvements this summer and fall 2025.

Gifts of any amount are welcome, including donations of stock, contributions from an IRA or Donor Advised Fund, or by check.

If you have questions, please contact Mary Vandevord, President & CEO, at (618) 566-4451 ex 20 or email her at ma************@*******************cy.org