Hague Nature Preserve Gallery

HAGUE NATURE PRESERVE

The Bill and Joyce Hague Foundation was founded to protect and to conserve natural areas. The Foundation’s first project is the Hague Nature Preserve, a 64-acre property in Pickerington, Ohio.

Large sycamore tree with brown seed balls, person for scale.Our Goals

Hague Nature Preserve

  • protects the riparian corridor on both sides of Sycamore Creek.
  • protects a forested ridge area that provides valuable bat habitat.
  • prevents soil erosion and helps maintain water quality in the Sycamore Creek watershed.
  • absorbs surface water that may otherwise cause flooding.

Restoring the Land

Since portions of the parcel were previously farmed, board members have begun the process of ecological restoration in was corn and bean fields. 

So far, board members and our wonderful volunteers have planted over 2,000 trees and shrubs, plus cover crops to restore soil health. 

There is also an electric fence in place to help protect the new seedlings.  The changes seen in just the first few years have been remarkable! 

Visitation

Hague Nature Preserve is not currently open for public visitation except for public events and visits arranged in advance with the Foundation. 

However, we have had many, many visitors and volunteers come to the preserve in the last few years. 

So, please contact us if you would like to arrange a visit.  The Foundation would love to meet you and show you this special place!

Research and Field Studies at the Hague Nature Preserve

The Bill and Joyce Hague Foundation is committed to supporting research at Hague Nature Preserve.

Our goal is to enhance studies and learning opportunities related to: conservation, restoration, ecosystem management and services, wildlife habitats, and more. We aim to host events and work together with both existing and new partners to

  • engage school age and college students in field studies and research.
  • encourage "citizen science" initiatives to promote environmental stewardship.

Since acquisition, conservation and restoration have been the Board’s main focus at the preserve.

To begin documentation of the wildlife found there, iNaturalist Project: Hague Nature Preserve has been established. This project is just a start. We welcome more observers to come, look around, and log what you see.

Some of the most exciting species that have been observed by board members and visitors are:

  • American Bladdernut
  • Bloodroot
  • Eastern Screech Owl (a whole family!)
  • Grasshopper Sparrow
  • Sandhill Crane (very exciting and LOUD visitor!)
  • Shagbark Hickory (great for roosting bats!)
  • Wild Ginger
  • Wild Turkey (wonderful companions when we’re out doing field work!)
  • Wahoo tree

With your help, we hope to discover even more species! Volunteers welcome.

Our board members have joined up with groups on high school field days, bio-blitzes, bat monitoring, mothing events, salamander and fish monitoring, insect population studies, wetland monitoring, bird banding, bird counts, mushroom forays, and acorn seeding studies.

We invite you to reach out to us with your idea or to tell us about yourself or your group via the contact page on this site, via email at info@billjoycehaguefoundation.org or call us at 614-618-5490. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know about events and volunteer opportunities!