Conservation@Home is a program created by The Conservation Foundation of Naperville, Illinois. The Barrington Hills Conservation Trust and Citizens for Conservation are working together to extend the program to Barrington-area communities.

• to encourage homeowners to implement environmentally friendly landscapes, and
• to reward those who do with a plaque.

• to promote active involvement of local residents,
• to educate landowners on methods for improving the habitat in their yards,
• to provide visible conservation design and implementation in residential neighborhoods.

The Conservation@Home program recognizes property owners who protect or create environmentally friendly yards by using native prairie and woodland wildflowers, trees, and shrubs, by creating butterfly and rain gardens, and by removing invasive species. It includes preserving areas that already provide healthy natural habitats such as stream corridors, wetlands and woods.

At the core of these landscapes is the use of native plants which thrive without fertilizer or pesticides and tolerate drought conditions. Their deep roots hold the soil and allow water to percolate into the soil to replenish ground water. These plants attract beneficial wildlife like butterflies and songbirds.

Rainwater runoff as well as loss of open space and wildlife habitat are leading causes of environmental degradation in developed areas. Replacing some of this lost habitat at home allows residents to reduce the negative impacts of development and to improve water quality.

Conservation@Home representatives will visit the properties of homeowners interested in participating in this program to:

1. provide guidance such as plant lists, mail order sources and names of local companies that specialize in creating native landscapes,
2. suggest methods for improving storm water management, recycling, and controlling invasive plants,
3. certify yards as being environmentally friendly.

For more information, visit these pages: Fact Sheets, References, Plant Lists, Other Resources.

Download an Application form (standard Adobe PDF).