Native plants, birds return to Orland Grassland after 10 years of restoration

Volunteers have spent at least three days a month for the past decade wading through overgrown brush in a southwest suburban grassland, yanking out invasive plants and nurturing new ones.

This marks the 10th year of the efforts to restore the prairie, wetlands, savanna and shrub lands at Orland Grassland, which is part of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.

"Every year since we've been out here, it's a little better and a little better and a little better," said Pat Hayes, an Orland Park resident and site steward for the grassland.

Volunteers, with the support of the forest preserve and agencies such as the Audubon Chicago Region, have been working the land meticulously to restore hills of native plants while welcoming back birds, butterflies and other animals returning to their revived habitats.

Watch video and read on:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/orland_park/ct-met-orland-park-grassland-0925-20120925,0,3268208.story