Land Stewardship

Restoration and Management

In 1997 the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy in coordination with Dane County Land and Water Resources Department Parks Division began removing invasive species from the Pheasant Branch Conservancy. Since then, thousands of volunteers have helped pull and cut invasive plants, collect and spread prairie seeds, coordinate prescribed burns and worked on countless construction projects. Middleton High School ecology students, Operation Fresh Start students and staff, Prairie Partners Interns and many area businesses have been especially helpful over the years. Over 25 years of hard work by these Friends of Pheasant Branch volunteers have created this beautiful prairie and wetlands. Our Pheasant Branch Conservancy is also expanding by 160 acres as the new Acker farm parcel is being added. Please join us at a restoration workday in the future.
Restoration Workdays

We have resumed our schedule of organized workdays throughout the year, click the 'Restoration Workdays' link above for a schedule of workdays open to volunteers.   Typically, we have workdays twice each month from early spring through late fall except for July and August when the summer heat can be taxing on our volunteers. We also sponsor winter workdays when specific tasks can be accomplished more effectively in the wetlands with a frozen landscape.  Keep checking our website for information on upcoming workdays as the nature of the work is highly dependent on weather and the lifecycle of plants.
Propagation Garden

With the guidance of our Land Manager, Rob Schubert, a propagation garden has been established near the historic Frederick's Farm homestead site at the base of Pheasant Branch Hill. This garden provides the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy a nursery area to grow more uncommon prairie plants from which seeds can then be collected and used to increase the biodiversity of flora within the Pheasant Branch Conservancy.
Prairies

For a quarter century we've been restoring the Conservancy, but did you know that there is prairie on Frederick's Hill in Pheasant Branch Conservancy that has likely been there for several thousand years? Have you ever wondered how or when the other prairies at Pheasant Branch were planted?
Flora and Fauna

Discover the forbs, grasses, bushes, and trees, both native and non-native, as well as some of the smaller animals such as insects, spiders, reptiles, and amphibians that can be found in the Pheasant Branch Conservancy.

Restoration news

  • Aerial photo of 160-acre “Platinum Prairie” at Pheasant Branch Conservancy

    Photo caption: Aerial view of new 160-parcel at Pheasant Branch Conservancy Article by: Gary Sater, Co-Chair, Restoration & Management Committee This past February, the last 40-acre quadrant within the 160-acre addition on the northern border of Pheasant Branch Conservancy was planted with a rich and diverse seed mix by Dane County Parks. This entire area […]

  • Invasive species removal on southeast corridor trail at Pheasant Branch Conservancy

    Photo caption: Buckthorn removal on southeast corridor trail Article by: Hans Hilbert, Co-President, Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy Continuing Conservation  The Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy have a long history with invasive species. Over a quarter century ago, volunteers began efforts to restore and manage the Pheasant Branch Conservancy, focusing then on the hillsides and […]

  • New prairie at Pheasant Branch Conservancy

    New prairie at Pheasant Branch Conservancy Article by: Pam Shannon and Hans Hilbert, FOPBC Board Co-Presidents It was May 2019 when former Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced the $10 million purchase of 160 acres abutting the northern boundary of Pheasant Branch Conservancy. As County Parks staff began restoration efforts by removing the buildings and […]

  • The Pheasant Branch Conservancy propagation garden was just a grassy, weedy parking lot in 2019

    The thriving propagation garden at Pheasant Branch Conservancy (photo by Chris Kehler) Article by: Janice P. Kehler, FOPBC Board Member and Restoration & Management Committee Member In 1949, Aldo Leopold described the “prairie birthday” as a culmination of events from April to September when wild native plants bloom. This essay was among many published as […]

  • Invasive species removal at Pheasant Branch Conservancy

    Volunteers work to remove invasive species at Pheasant Branch Conservancy Article by: Hans Hilbert, FOPBC Board Co-President and Restoration & Management Committee Co-Chair The Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy volunteers are diligently working to protect our precious natural area from the harmful impacts of invasive species. These non-native plants and animals can wreak havoc on […]

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