Enhancing biodiversity on your land - Vernon County, private landowner
Join property owner and Conservancy board member Tom Lukens for a tour of Nature Nooks Retreat and see what 23 years of adhering to their mission statement of: “To protect and enhance biodiversity and carrying capacity and create a means of sharing a sense of awe, connection and caring” looks like.
On these 87 diverse acres with a mile of the Kickapoo West Fork running through them, you’ll walk several acres of peak prairie bloom and discuss establishment protocols. You’ll see keystone native tree and shrub plantings and discuss selection criteria as inspired by Douglas Tallamy’s “Plant Natives for Biodiversity.” The walk will include wetlands, a beaver dam analog and other low-tech efforts used to add habitat by slowing and making more complex spring-fed surface water flow. There will even be a new predator-protection turtle nesting box discussion following this new installation.
The tour includes 1.5 miles of low-gradient mowed trails along the West Fork. Trout stream habitat restoration beginning in 2003 has included non-game habitat work with riparian corridor considerations for other species, such as turtles and snakes.
Participants should register by July 20th for this free event, and are encouraged to arrive as early as 5:00 pm for conversation and a cold beverage on the deck of Kinship Place before the event begins. The address: S4878 County Rd. S, Viroqua, WI 54665.
Thursday, July 23, 2026 | 6-8 p.m.
Event Details:
• Free program; registration required at MississippiValleyConservancy.org
• Participation limited to 20 people
• Specific directions will be sent after registration
• Wear weather-appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes or boots; hat and sunscreen recommended
• No dogs, please
• Walking route will follow mowed lanes and short vegetation over mostly level but occasionally uneven terrain; plan to walk up to 1 mile while visiting flower patches
SIGN UP
ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED for this FREE event by July 25th on the events page. Questions? Contact Karen Solverson at [email protected] or call 608-784-3606 ext. 8.
This event is part of the Conservancy’s 2026 “Linked to the Land” series of outdoor experiences on the many nature preserves it protects for wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, outdoor learning and recreation in the Driftless Area. The program is supported by the generous donations of our members and the in-kind support of WXOW News19.