Restoration & Conservation

Through a process known as biome restoration, we continue to work to return 65-acres of grassland to native plant vegetation through a combination of transplantation and seeding techniques with native plants. The prairie is a critically vital habitat for prairie plant and wildlife species that have less and less natural areas available. Because factors that once kept brush and trees from growing in the prairie have largely been eliminated, if left alone, these plant types would begin to grow in the prairie, returning it to low-diversity upland forest. This type of forest is poor habitat for most native animals. To simulate natural conditions, we eliminate encroaching saplings and trees by mowing, or by conducting prescribed prairie burns. The use of strategic spraying of herbicides is also sometimes necessary to control exotic vegetation. Naturally occurring grazing animals such as deer also help control growth. The Heard seeks to leave our prairie as natural as possible, but realizes that, without intervention, this precious piece of native prairie habitat could be lost forever.

Heard staff and volunteers have also performed habitat restoration using native plants that were rescued from various sites in North Texas that are being lost to development. These efforts are often aided by volunteers from the Native Plant Society of Texas Collin County Chapter and the Texas Master Naturalists Blackland Prairie Chapter.