At Harlow Dune Nature Reserve, the Land Trust is actively working to protect and restore biodiversity across a landscape of mature swamp forest, oak woodland, savanna, and dry sand barren. Among these habitats, oak savannas—fire-influenced ecosystems with open, sandy areas—support a remarkable variety of native plants and pollinators. By maintaining these open habitats, we are helping prairie species such as New Jersey Tea and Wild Lupine thrive, creating the conditions needed for butterflies like the Mottled Duskywing and Karner Blue to return.

This season, our dedicated Tree Amigos volunteers—Ron Shrubb, John Wellhauser, and Gerry McLellan—joined staff Lindsay Smith to continue restoration work across 3 hectares of oak savanna. Their efforts included thinning dense conifer stands, which opens sandy spaces favored by prairie plants and insects, removing invasive species, and taking down an old building to further enhance natural habitat.

The Tree Amigos have been a vital part of our stewardship efforts at Long Point Basin Land Trust. This small but mighty group focuses on giving native trees and plants the space to grow, ensuring that our nature reserves remain healthy, balanced, and resilient. Their work directly contributes to supporting local wildlife, protecting plant diversity, and fostering landscapes that will flourish for generations to come.