Docents - Learn about the Farm and Conservation Reserve to welcome and inform visitors. Call 346-7529 for more information.
Wednesday Farmhands - On Wednesdays from 8 a.m.-noon folks help around the farm, barn and house. Work and have fun at your own pace, then enjoy lunch with the farmhands.
Trail Crew - Help restore, create, preserve and maintain the trail system. Wear gloves, long pants and appropriate shoes.
Service Projects - spread mulch on the trails, prairie clearing and planting, invasive species removal, make walking sticks, create trailhead benches, table, kiosk shelters; build foot bridges, create outdoor classrooms/nature nooks, build hillside railings (rope supported by poles) along steep inclines, install hillside steps along Raccoon Ridge inclines, or Adopt a Piece of Willoughby (claim, clear, plant and name an area).
Volunteer Times: Anytime! Call Carol 288-3142 ahead of time to make sure the gate is open and you have what you need.
Wednesday Farmhands - On Wednesdays from 8 a.m.-noon folks help around the farm, barn and house. Work and have fun at your own pace, then enjoy lunch with the farmhands.
Trail Crew - Help restore, create, preserve and maintain the trail system. Wear gloves, long pants and appropriate shoes.
Service Projects - spread mulch on the trails, prairie clearing and planting, invasive species removal, make walking sticks, create trailhead benches, table, kiosk shelters; build foot bridges, create outdoor classrooms/nature nooks, build hillside railings (rope supported by poles) along steep inclines, install hillside steps along Raccoon Ridge inclines, or Adopt a Piece of Willoughby (claim, clear, plant and name an area).
Volunteer Times: Anytime! Call Carol 288-3142 ahead of time to make sure the gate is open and you have what you need.
Copyright © 2008 by Collinsville Area Recreation District · All Rights Reserved · E-Mail frontdesk@collinsvillerec.com
What is Willoughby...
The demonstration outhouse was completed in the spring of 2008 as an Eagle Scout project by Shay Carter with Boy Scout Troop 93. Shay was able to preserve and incorporate the original foundation and seat from the Gindler farm. Visit the farm to find why he planted lamb’s ear around the outhouse perimeter.
Exploratory Children’s Garden -- Take a stroll in our new Children’s Shade Garden, located north of the entrance road. The garden was created as an Eagle Scout project for children to enjoy and become closer to their natural world. Donna Moody’s fourth grade class at Summit Elementary School continues to help develop the area by planting native plants and making animal print stepping stones. Another Eagle Scout project is being planned to build a tree house for the garden.
Hours: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., weather permitting. Call Carol at 346-7529 for questions or information.
The 30 acre conservation reserve at Willoughby includes over three miles of challenging trails. Thanks to Boy Scout Troop 93 getting to the trails is easier with the recently installed trail staircase.
New bridges are cause for excitement. The railcar bridges are supported through a Madison County Planning and Development grant (as is the goat project). The bridges are recycled from abandoned railcars and will be a great reason to come visit the trails.
Part of the conservation effort is bring Willoughby back to the way it was and Stormwater Erosion Specialties and Excavation Inc., along with volunteer naturalists, are leading our restoration efforts by donating their expertise and time to help us mitigate trail erosion, control invasive species and plant natives.
New bridges are cause for excitement. The railcar bridges are supported through a Madison County Planning and Development grant (as is the goat project). The bridges are recycled from abandoned railcars and will be a great reason to come visit the trails.
Part of the conservation effort is bring Willoughby back to the way it was and Stormwater Erosion Specialties and Excavation Inc., along with volunteer naturalists, are leading our restoration efforts by donating their expertise and time to help us mitigate trail erosion, control invasive species and plant natives.
Willoughby Heritage Farm is more than just a piece of property. As part of the Collinsville Area Recreation District (CARD) the land is becoming place where the history of the area comes alive through historic structures, original tools, replica gardens and a restored environment.
CARD's plans to make the property a representation of a Midwestern family farm from the 1930s to 1950s is being made possible with grants from the Madison County Parks and Recreation Grants Commission, Madison County Planning and Development, IDCEO/Department of Energy and other organizations, as well as volunteer asisstance from Boy Scout Troop 93, Boy Scout Troop 1031, the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners and the Timber Framers Guild.
Along with being a historic property, the CARD staff has also created over three miles of hiking trails along the woodland and prairie and is working to restore to natural aspect of the land as part of a conservation mission
CARD's plans to make the property a representation of a Midwestern family farm from the 1930s to 1950s is being made possible with grants from the Madison County Parks and Recreation Grants Commission, Madison County Planning and Development, IDCEO/Department of Energy and other organizations, as well as volunteer asisstance from Boy Scout Troop 93, Boy Scout Troop 1031, the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners and the Timber Framers Guild.
Along with being a historic property, the CARD staff has also created over three miles of hiking trails along the woodland and prairie and is working to restore to natural aspect of the land as part of a conservation mission
Gindler Barn - the newest addition to Willoughby Heritage Farm
The Gindler Barn, named for the Gindler family of Collinsville who owned the barn, was relocated from Longhi Road in Collinsville to Willoughby Farm during the winter of 2007. The Gindler family owned the barn and corresponding property since the mid 1800s. When the property was sold in 2007, the pre-Civil War, hewn oak barn was donated to CARD in lieu of being destroyed.
Piece by piece the barn was moved to Willoughby Farm and on July 7-19, 2008 crews from Trillium Dell Timberworks, the Timber Framers Guild and local volunteers (at left) used original and new timbers to re-assemble the 36x85-foot barn.The Gindler Barn is a perfect example of a Midwestern-style barn.
The Gindler Barn, named for the Gindler family of Collinsville who owned the barn, was relocated from Longhi Road in Collinsville to Willoughby Farm during the winter of 2007. The Gindler family owned the barn and corresponding property since the mid 1800s. When the property was sold in 2007, the pre-Civil War, hewn oak barn was donated to CARD in lieu of being destroyed.
Piece by piece the barn was moved to Willoughby Farm and on July 7-19, 2008 crews from Trillium Dell Timberworks, the Timber Framers Guild and local volunteers (at left) used original and new timbers to re-assemble the 36x85-foot barn.The Gindler Barn is a perfect example of a Midwestern-style barn.
Goats at Willoughby
Our two favorite half-sisters - Lucy and Ethel - returned to the farm this spring to continue their work in the conservation reserve: grazing on the exotic (nonnative) invasive weeds that are strangling the farm's native forbs, grasses and trees. The goats will help create a native healthy woodland for the wildlife to enjoy and thrive.
This year, Ethel brought along a baby goat with her. The children at Summit Elementary School helped us choose a name for the new kid (baby goats are called kids). Her name is Ellie. On Thursday, April 16 Lucy shocked us all when she gave birth to a healthy boy. The new boy was aptly named "Little Ricky" the following day.
If all goes well the young goats will stay on the farm with their mothers for the summer. They will be housed in the farm's original corn bin, which was recycled into a cozy Goat House last year.
The goats, corn bin modifications, and fence were made possible through the Madison County Planning and Development grant.
Our two favorite half-sisters - Lucy and Ethel - returned to the farm this spring to continue their work in the conservation reserve: grazing on the exotic (nonnative) invasive weeds that are strangling the farm's native forbs, grasses and trees. The goats will help create a native healthy woodland for the wildlife to enjoy and thrive.
This year, Ethel brought along a baby goat with her. The children at Summit Elementary School helped us choose a name for the new kid (baby goats are called kids). Her name is Ellie. On Thursday, April 16 Lucy shocked us all when she gave birth to a healthy boy. The new boy was aptly named "Little Ricky" the following day.
If all goes well the young goats will stay on the farm with their mothers for the summer. They will be housed in the farm's original corn bin, which was recycled into a cozy Goat House last year.
The goats, corn bin modifications, and fence were made possible through the Madison County Planning and Development grant.
Gardener’s Corner -- The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners maintained the vegetable, flower and small fruits gardens again this year and donated over 1,000 pounds of food to area food pantries, as well as numerous bouquets to area nursing homes. The gardeners enlarged their native plants area so that it now totals about 85 species. And the garden once again was an attraction to many visitors, teachers, and students.
The Master Gardeners created a wonderful butterfly garden that added color and beauty all season long. The garden quickly gained popularity with teachers and home-school groups as an outdoor classroom. Students were able to observe all of the growth stages of a butterfly from egg to adult in a natural setting. A few even raised a butterfly in their classroom.
Next year, the Master Gardeners want to provide a more formal entry into the garden area with an archway trellis (great Eagle Scout idea for a project). They would like to increase the number of plants in the native area to about 125. The Master Gardeners also plan to create a map which shows the GPS coordinates of some of the large trees at Willoughby Farm. This will be fun interpretive information for visitors and reinforce classroom goals for teachers!
The Master Gardeners will also work with the Artisan Guild of Southern Illinois to grow some of the plants which have historically been used to produce dyes for the dying of fabric. We look to find suitable space, possibly by terracing part of the area west of the garden (another Eagle Scout idea).
The Master Gardeners created a wonderful butterfly garden that added color and beauty all season long. The garden quickly gained popularity with teachers and home-school groups as an outdoor classroom. Students were able to observe all of the growth stages of a butterfly from egg to adult in a natural setting. A few even raised a butterfly in their classroom.
Next year, the Master Gardeners want to provide a more formal entry into the garden area with an archway trellis (great Eagle Scout idea for a project). They would like to increase the number of plants in the native area to about 125. The Master Gardeners also plan to create a map which shows the GPS coordinates of some of the large trees at Willoughby Farm. This will be fun interpretive information for visitors and reinforce classroom goals for teachers!
The Master Gardeners will also work with the Artisan Guild of Southern Illinois to grow some of the plants which have historically been used to produce dyes for the dying of fabric. We look to find suitable space, possibly by terracing part of the area west of the garden (another Eagle Scout idea).
What else can I find at Willoughby?
Education Programs -- The Illinois Renewable Energy Bike is a human-powered, stationary bike that demonstrates how mechanical energy is transformed into electrical, light, heat and sound energy.
The Energy Bike, granted by IDCEO/Department of Energy, has become very popular for children in grades four through eight because it teaches the energy and electricity concepts with visual, real-life applications.
A supplemental eighth grade energy and circuitry curriculum, formulated to meet the Illinois academic standards, using hands-on, inquiry based learning is also available! The bike can be taken to your school or work place. Call Carol Frerker at 288-3142 for more information.
The Energy Bike, granted by IDCEO/Department of Energy, has become very popular for children in grades four through eight because it teaches the energy and electricity concepts with visual, real-life applications.
A supplemental eighth grade energy and circuitry curriculum, formulated to meet the Illinois academic standards, using hands-on, inquiry based learning is also available! The bike can be taken to your school or work place. Call Carol Frerker at 288-3142 for more information.
The chicken house (or "Poultry Palace") was completed by Eagle Scout Brandon Szakasci earlier this year and is currently housing two roosters. Later this spring a flock of 30 chicks will take up residence and be raised on the farm.
Volunteer Opportunities
Everyone is welcome to volunteer at Willoughby Farm, a nature preserve that has been built by the community -- for the community. We are creating a place to learn about and enjoy our farm heritage and the natural world! Below are a few ways you can help support Willoughby Farm.
Everyone is welcome to volunteer at Willoughby Farm, a nature preserve that has been built by the community -- for the community. We are creating a place to learn about and enjoy our farm heritage and the natural world! Below are a few ways you can help support Willoughby Farm.
Willoughby Farm has been a community fixture for the Collinsville area since the early 1900s. Recognizing the significance of interactive education and the importance of preserving open space for the community, CARD continues to work toward restoring Willoughby Farm to an authentic working family farm and conservation reserve.
Willoughby Heritage Farm and Conservation Reserve is located at
631 Willoughby Lane, near Summit Elementary School, in the heart of Collinsville.
Map to Willoughby Farm and other CARD Facilities
Willoughby Heritage Farm and Conservation Reserve is located at
631 Willoughby Lane, near Summit Elementary School, in the heart of Collinsville.
Map to Willoughby Farm and other CARD Facilities