”… I tell people my church has trees and offers shade to those who seek it … I worship there almost daily, in total awe of the many wonders of life.”
in reality, all of nature is equal as one. We all need each other for ultimate survival.”
Over the past 10 years, Kelley and volunteers have been successful in nearly eliminating invasive plants, giving native plants and animals the opportunity to reclaim the land. There has been a homecoming for nesting blue grosbeaks and sedge wrens, Virginia and sora rails, nesting and migrating duck species, great white egret, and little green heron. All but one of the 11 frog and toad species have returned, as well as beaver and mink.
Part of the success is due to restoring a portion of the land, in a valley flood plain, to a wetland. Plantings have included a variety of native wetland plant species around the ponds, as well as prairie grasses and wildflowers. Tree saplings were planted along the banks of Salt Creek to create a buffer, favoring the creek and its inhabitants.
“ It’ s always nice to see certain wildlife species that wouldn’ t otherwise be found here if not for changing the habitat through wetland improvements,” Kelley said.
After enjoying the land privately for several years, Kelley began considering donating his land to
a conservation trust to protect it from potential development in the future.
Today, the donated land is managed by the Stone Head Conservancy, a newly formed non-profit organization. The board of directors of the Stone Head Conservancy is responsible for improvements to the land including bridges, boardwalks, invasive species control, signage, trail upkeep and other maintenance.
As a dedicated nature preserve, Stone Head Nature Preserve serves as a living museum, a record of Indiana’ s original natural character. Located in southern Brown County, five miles south of State
Road 46, the preserve is open to the public, welcoming each visitor with wetland and meadow trails, wooded hills and countless species of birds, vegetation, animals, and insects. Informal footpaths provide good starting points for exploration and nature study.
Various local groups have already utilized the land including the Bloomington Photography Club, Bloomington Watercolor
Society, Walking Women Hiking Club, Sassafras Audubon Society, Moonwalker’ s hiking group and school groups from Columbus. It has annually been on the program for Brown County’ s Spring Wildflower Foray and Nature Awareness Weekend.
Kelley said he hopes the preserve will grow and inspire others to preserve land.
“ It is our dream to someday have an uninterrupted corridor of nature preserve running the length of Salt Creek Valley( Middle Fork) from Stone Head to Story, dedicated to the appreciation and study of nature for generations to
come,” he said.“ It won’ t happen in our lifetimes, but all dreams have a starting point and we like to think the seed has been planted for future growth.”
For more information on the Stone Head Nature Preserve or the Stone Head Conservancy, visit < www. facebook. com / StoneHeadConservancy > or < stoneheadconservancy. org >. •
Nov./ Dec. 2015 • Our Brown County 17