Looking back at 2025

This year at Little Forks Conservancy we accomplished so much from collecting macroinvertebrates in the Cedar River to opening new nature preserves for the community to enjoy. None of the work we have achieved would be possible without passionate folks who care about making a difference. We are incredibly thankful to those supporters who helped us continue our conservation work in 2025. Keep reading below to see the highlights!

Work on the trail and parking lot at Nelson Woods began this fall

One huge milestone that was achieved this year was the opening of the Three Ponds preserve. Little Forks Conservancy acquired this property in 2021 and we have been working to develop it into an asset for the community. After the completion of the parking lot construction this May, the preserve was officially opened for use. At this time we are continuing to work on restoring the environment and adding needed infrastructure. 

We also broke ground on another natural area coming to Midland, our Nelson Woods preserve. This 106-acre property includes mature forests, wetlands, and river frontage on the Tittabawassee.  Construction work began this fall to create a parking lot and accessible trail that will lead to an overlook on the river. This preserve will be closed until work is complete in the spring of 2026.

---

Volunteers this year helped us to complete stewardship work on our preserves, bettering the environment and trail experience. Overall, more than 300 volunteers spent over 1,000 hours engaged in conservation activities including: 

• Monitoring water quality by collecting and identifying macroinvertebrates in the Cedar River 
• Removing invasive species and building habitat brush piles for wildlife
• Cleaning up trash from local landscapes and waterways to improve health
• Collecting data on the water quality at our preserves
• Monitoring the status of vernal pools in the region
• Maintaining trail systems and building infrastructure on our over 1,000 acres of natural areas
• Planting over 800 native trees and shrubs to restore habitat and increase climate resiliency

Thank you to the amazing individuals who spent their time volunteering with us this year!

---

Also in 2025, Little Forks Conservancy protected an additional 45 acres in Clare County through a conservation easement with the Helmick family. The protection of this property is important as it contains hardwood forest, diverse wetlands, and habitat for wildlife. Adjacent to conserved areas, this conservation easement will prevent future habitat fragmentation and will ensure it will remain protected forever. We are looking forward to the continued protection of this property for generations to come.

A Barred Owl watches staff from a tree at the Helmick easement

---

Attendees at our Stewardship Series on invasive species learn to identify harmful non-native plants

Through our free, public programs we  educate the community on the environment, why land protection is important, and how anyone can get involved in local conservation efforts. These programs include social hikes, citizen science projects, stewardship workshops and presentations. In 2025, we increased participation in these programs by 26% compared to last year. We are so glad to see more folks getting involved with the environment and we are already looking forward to our programming in 2026. 
​

Comment below to share your favorite memory from 2025!