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Willoughby Heritage Farm And Conservation Reserve
Collinsville, IL | 40 acres
Type: Specialty Park and Natural Area
Owned by: City of Collinsville
Our role: In the early 2000s, HeartLands Conservancy provided technical assistance to the Collinsville Area Recreation District (which later dissolved and Collinsville took ownership) to develop a Master Plan for the property. We permanently conserved the forest portion of the land through a conservation easement.
Hours: Open 9:00 am to dusk, 7 days per week. Please confirm hours by visiting the City of Collinsville’s website.
Location & Directions
Located west of Summit Elementary School in Collinsville on Willoughby Lane.
Trails & Facilities
There are several hiking trails through the 30-acre conservation reserve, as well as paths through the historic farmstead. View the trails map from City of Collinsville.
Restrooms are available near the farmhouse.
The park also features hiking trails, a playground, farm animals, a community garden, pavilions and barns for rent, and primitive camping facilities (with reservation).
Wildlife & Habitat
Willoughby Heritage Farm and Conservation Reserve is an upland forest system on the historic bluffs in Collinsville. Bluff ecoystems consist of highly erodible loess soils, steep ravines, and mature forests.
Plants of interest include a variety of oak and hickory trees, black-eyed susans, sycamores, and mayapples.
Depending on the season, you may be able to see a variety of birds and other wildlife, such as finches, hawks, eastern box turtles, and rabbits.
Regulations
The trails are dog-friendly if leashed. Please keep your dog on a leash for the safety of your furry friend, other visitors, and the wildlife.
Visit the City of Collinsville website for further information.
Stephanie Wade
Stephanie Wade
Overview
Willoughby Heritage Farm & Conservation Reserve
Willoughby Farm’s Conservation Reserve protects a sensitive upland forest ecosystem in the historic bluffs along the Mississippi River. These habitats are home to a wide variety of wildlife—from migratory birds to deer and the gentle eastern box turtle.
Once prominent, connected forests in the bluffs that provided safe travel routes and habitat, the continued chopping up of forests has resulted in the decline of Eastern Box Turtles. Protected woodlands, wetlands, and prairies are essential for the turtles to thrive. Willoughby Farm’s conservation reserve is a popular safe-haven for eastern box turtles and is a hopeful sign that when we care for the land and water, nature responds.
By conserving this landscape, we’re not only protecting habitat—we’re ensuring that future generations can connect with the historic beauty of the upland forests and the wildlife it sustains.
Willoughby Heritage Farm’s 10-acre farmstead re-creates an atmosphere inspired by 1940’s farming-life, complete with tractors, barns, a 1930’s style Craftsman FarmHouse, and even live animals like pigs, chickens, and goats.
If you would like to find out more about how to create a new public conservation area and conserve wildlife habitat, feel free to call Anna McAtee at (618) 566-4451 ex 23 or email her at an*********@*******************cy.org.
You may find information on our Land Conservation page and Ways to Give page helpful, too.