ADVANCING BIODIVERSITY IN EASTERN IOWA

Good natured since 1978

Protect Your Land Find a Preserve

  • Belgum Groove

    June 8, 2024 • 4-7 PM
    Belgum Grove Preserve
    Free
    View Event

  • Tour Kessler Prairie

    July 13, 2024 • 9-11 AM
    Kessler Prairie
    Free
    View Event

Putting Nature First

Our mission is advancing biodiversity in eastern Iowa by protecting resilient landscapes an connecting people to nature.

Bur Oak Land Trust preserves are protected lands in eastern Iowa full of plants and wildlife, and many are open to the public year-round.

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Explore

Explore all of our beautiful preserves by enjoying your favorite outdoor activities!

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Serve

Make a difference in Eastern Iowa by volunteering with AmeriCorps.

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Give

Donate to save our most critical natural places and improve local biodiversity.

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Events

Learn more about the local environment during one of our many upcoming events!

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WHAT’S IN SEASON?

BIG GROVE PRESERVE

Big Grove Preserve, with the addition of the newly acquired Big Grove Addition, is an 80-acre woodland adjacent to the Coralville Reservoir off of Sugar Bottom Road. This area makes up part of the original “Big Grove” noted by the first settlers to describe Johnson County’s landscape.

  • Pet Friendly
  • Hiking Trails
  • Trail Runs
  • Kid Friendly
  • Foraging
  • Bow Hunting

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CHOOSE AMERICORPS

Be a part of the dedicated individuals who provide invaluable services for the outdoors on Bur Oak preserves, and lands within Johnson County and throughout eastern Iowa.

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Latest News

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  • Prairie Preview and Pawpaws

    Meaningful environmental work is happening in Iowa and we want to share the good news with you! Get ready to learn about the many programs and projects impacting our local outdoors at Prairie Preview.

    More than 30 organizations will share ways for nature enthusiasts to get involved from 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday, March 28 at the Iowa City Senior Center. This event is free and open to the public thanks to generous support from the Iowa Living Roadway Trust Fund.

    New to Prairie Preview this year...

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  • A Year of Revival

    The work of conserving land in eastern Iowa is ongoing. It takes thoughtful planning and continual action to change natural places for the better. In addition to a years worth of land management activity across the Bur Oak preserves and beyond, these are some of the highlights of the year. See you in 2024!

    1. Brought back Prairie Preview

    Prairie Preview, the decades-old and well-loved environmental forum, was revived after being temporarily canceled due to the Covid...

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  • Fall burn season

    There are many benefits of controlled fire in natural areas. It’s a tool the Bur Oak Land Trust crew uses to decrease the spread of invasive species, improve soil health for prairies and encourage new plant growth and remove excess leaf litter and other natural fuel to prevent dangerous fires. This season, burns were done at four Bur Oak preserves and two other Iowa land trust preserves spanning nearly 200 acres of land.

    BELGUM GROVE PRESERVE

    This is the fourth year in a row the pond and dam and west hillside...

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