The environmental issues facing our world have never been greater – our climate is changing, farmland is disappearing, not everyone has good access to land, wildlife habitat is vanishing, and people are losing their connections with the outdoors. Groundswell Conservancy is pushing back. With the help of our supporters, landowners, partners and volunteers, we are taking on big issues with focus and resolve. Acre by acre we are getting results.
With your help, we restore and care for our local natural landscapes for communities to enjoy and wildlife to thrive. No experience is necessary, and we provide the tools for the job.
Learn More About Volunteering
Help us collect native seeds for this winter`s 18-acre prairie planting! 🌾
Through the end of October, join Groundswell staff and volunteers for seed collection at Westport Prairie and Patrick Marsh. No experience is required and all are welcome! Check out the upcoming workdays:
Westport Prairie:
October 14, 9–11 a.m.
October 15, 4–6 p.m.
October 29, 4–6 p.m.
Patrick Marsh:
October 16, 9–11:30 a.m.
RSVP at the links in our bio!
📷: Mario Quintana, Groundswell Conservancy
#groundswellconservancy #conservationwhereyoulive #westportprairie #seedcollection #patrickmarsh
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day at Patrick Marsh!
On Sunday, October 18 from 9–11 a.m., the City of Sun Prairie will host Migration at the Marsh, a morning celebrating migratory birds and the conservation of places that support wildlife.
Enjoy bird and nature activities, a Bird City designation ceremony for Sun Prairie, and native plant ecology walks (beginning at 9:30 and 10:30) led by Groundswell`s own Easement Stewardship Manager, Brandon Mann. 🌿
Learn how conservation efforts of special places like Patrick Marsh provide important habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife, and find out what you can do at home to protect birds.
Click the link in our bio for event details! 🦢
#groundswellconservancy #patrickmarsh #conservationwhereyoulive #sunprairie
As we settle into fall, nature is changing all around us: falling leaves, golden autumn hues, and brisk air arriving on our front doorstep! Changing seasons invites us to slow down, get outside, and experience nature’s healing qualities–and we want to hear from YOU. How has nature healed you? Do you have a special place that supports your health and wellbeing, like Westport Prairie or Patrick Marsh?
Send us a message, leave a comment below, or email amanda@groundswellconservancy.org to share your stories 🌿
#groundswellconservancy #natureasmedicine #healing #conservationwhereyoulive #naturestories
"If you’ve wandered aimlessly, or even purposefully, through a prairie this month, you may have noticed quite a few banded garden spiders out and about. Their webs are incredibly strong, and I often find surprisingly large grasshoppers tangled up in them. The evening I found this particular spider, the sunlight was hitting its web just right, creating such a striking scene that I had to stop and take a photo.
I did a little research on banded garden spiders and discovered that they often orient their webs from east to west. They also tend to hang head-down with the dark underside of their abdomen facing the sun, allowing them to absorb as much solar heat as possible late in the year. In other words, this spider`s positioning wasn`t random at all!"
From sunbathing banded garden spiders to the adventures of fungi fanatics, there`s a lot happening outdoors! Read this month`s Nature Now by Groundswell`s Land Management Director BJ Byers at the link in our bio 🌱
📷: BJ Byers
#groundswellconservancy #conservationwhereyoulive #naturenow
Celebrate the grand opening of the Marsh Lake Public Access Project with us! 🚣
When: Thursday, October 1, 4 p.m.
Where: Marsh Lake Public Access Area
Join us as Jefferson County Parks officially opens the new accessible canoe and kayak launch, and parking area at Marsh Lake. These improvements create a welcoming access point for paddling, wildlife viewing, and exploring this special landscape. You’re encouraged to bring your canoe or kayak and give the new launch a try following the ribbon cutting!
This event also celebrates the many people and partners who made this project possible. Originally owned by the Trieloff family and protected by Groundswell, the property will be managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as part of the Lake Mills Wildlife Area.
Visit the link in our bio for event details and registration. If inclement weather forces us to cancel this event, we will notify all who are registered via email.
📷: Jefferson County Parks
#groundswellconservancy #conservationwhereyoulive #conservationeasement
🔊 VOLUME UP 🔊 Do you hear that noise? It sounds like seed collectin` time!
Our Land Management Director, BJ Byers, captured this video of flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata) pods *crackling*. Once collected and dried, the seed capsule of this pollinator plant ruptures, creating a crackle/pop noise, and ejects the seeds out of their pods a short distance. And no, this doesn`t just happen in kitty pools–that`s just our process for drying out the seeds we collect from our preserves to help us prep for dispersal. 🍂
Want to learn more about these fascinating parts of nature and get involved in the fun? Join us for seed collecting at Westport Prairie this fall:
Wednesday, Sept 30, 9–11 a.m.
Wednesday, Oct 14, 9–11 a.m.
Thursday, Oct 15, 4–6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct 29, 4–6 p.m.
Learn more and RSVP at the link in our bio!
@ltalliance Rally may be over, but we`re still smiling! 💚
Four of us traveled to Denver, CO for Land Trust Alliance`s Rally 2026 Conference. Our staff attended learning sessions on land conservation and farming, fundraising, stewardship, and more. We connected with dozens of land trusts from across the nation to collaborate on our conservation efforts, build lasting partnerships, and bring back fun and inspiring stories!
Thanks to @ltalliance for creating a space where our community of land trusts can continue to grow and strengthen. A special thank you goes to the Oberweiler Foundation for making opportunities like this possible for our staff.
📷: A selfie with our friends @gatheringwaters by Danni Niles and photos from Heidi Habeger
#groundswellconservancy #rally4land #landtrustalliance #conservationwhereyoulive #LTArally2026
Today is National Public Lands Day 🌲
Take this opportunity to get outside, explore and appreciate our natural areas, and help protect the special places you love. Everyone should enjoy access to nature, and caring for our public lands depends on all of us.
Visit one of our public preserves, volunteer for an upcoming seed collection workday, and get involved in conservation where you live! Visit groundswellconservancy.org/get-involved to learn more.
📷: Roberta Herschleb, Mario Quintana, Amanda Dambrink
#groundswellconservancy #conservationwhereyoulive #westportprairie #patrickmarsh #nationalpubliclandsday
