  
A plan to attract birds and people to this 40-acre refuge on Springfield’s east side Green doesn’t always mean good. That’s the message that Tom Clay, the executive director of the Illinois Audubon Society, and Vern LaGesse, an ecological restorationist and president of the Friends of the Sangamon Valley, want to send with their new plan to revamp Adams Wildlife Sanctuary.
The 40-acre preserve, nestled between Clear Lake and Forrest avenues on the city’s east side, has largely been neglected. Aggressive exotic species like garlic mustard, an herb with heart-shaped leaves that smells like garlic, and tree of heaven, a deciduous tree with clusters of tiny, yellow-green flowers, have invaded its grounds and forced out native vegetation. As the sanctuary’s American elm, black walnut and white oak trees disappear, so do the native animal species that depend on their foliage and food. LaGesse and his organization drive out invasive greenery and promote the growth of Illinois’ native species in natural areas like Revis Hill Prairie in Mason County. He’s helped preserve parts of Washington and Carpenter parks, and now he’s signed up to help the Illinois Audubon Society bring out the best in its Springfield refuge.
The Illinois Audubon Society, the state’s oldest conservation organization and owner of Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, moved into the site’s Margery Adams home in November.
Now, with the help of federal grant monies and the acquisition of additional land, the society hopes to breathe new life into the unkempt sanctuary.
LaGesse expects the restoration project to not only attract more birds and animals to the green oasis, but also more visitors wanting to learn about the importance of native species.
“If you look in the region of outdoor education, Lincoln Memorial Gardens is about the only other opportunity, and it’s out there,” he says. “It’s not in the town, and it’s definitely not on the east side of the town. This just has such potential for being an asset in the community.” See also
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