Paddock Oak Savanna
“One of the most threatened plant communities in the Midwest and among the most threatened in the world.” (WDNR)
A relict savanna with 175 year-old burr oak trees lies within Pope Farm Conservancy on a hill between two sections of existing managed prairie. It is adjacent to walking trails and is a natural focal point for visitors. If managed properly, this rare habitat can support more than 100 species of native plants and provide visitors with a unique interpretive and educational experience.
FOPFC proposes to expand the adjacent Hillside Prairie management zone by 1.08 acres to include this relict of our by-gone heritage. FOPFC will be responsible for collecting seeds and establishing the savanna over the next two-years – and will maintain this prairie in the future.
The FOPFC has received permission to collect seeds – including species listed as rare or threatened — from a mature Oak Savanna on private land in western Dane County. We estimate that we will have over 20 seed collection excursions throughout South Central Wisconsin over a 2 year period. It will take over 400 hours of volunteer time to bring these species to Pope Farm Conservancy. When finished, the Oak Savanna will be a draw to the conservancy as well as a great educational feature for school systems and to the public in general.