Taking Care of Our Community, One Invasive Species at a Time

How lucky are we to live in a community where we are surrounded by hiking trails? There is one in particular that covers the entire state of Wisconsin; The Ice Age Trail! This trail covers 1,200 miles in our beloved, active-filled, state.

"The Ice Age Trail is more than a path through the woods. It is a place for mental and physical rejuvenation, a place to unwind after a hard day and enjoy the landscape of Wisconsin. More than 1 million people use the Ice Age Trail each year to hike and snowshoe, to backpack, to disconnect and reconnect." (From IceAgeTrail.org)

Don't we want to preserve and cherish landmarks such as this? To take care of the beauty that awaits people, so it continues to be a legacy in WI? Our team sees the importance of this and spent time this week volunteering and clearing out buckthorn! Buckthorn is an invasive species that is not only taking over our trails, but it can get out of control and kill the plants and trees that make the Ice Age Trail SO desirable. 

Our goal was to help restore this beautiful trail and protect this natural treasure in our home. It is time to take back our trail and show buckthorn who's boss! 

Check out our Team's before and after shots below!

Not only is the Ice Age Trail a captivating place to spend time exercising, with family, or simply enjoying the view, but it can provide economic benefits to communities! After all, living by a trail is a must for many families!

Economic Benefits of Trails

(From ConservationTools.org)

The trail studies described in this guide collectively identify a variety of trail benefits:

• Trails increase the value of nearby properties.
• Trails make communities more attractive places to live. When considering where to move, homebuyers rank walking and biking paths as one of the most important features of a new community.
• Trails influence business location and relocation decisions. Companies often choose to locate in communities that offer a high level of amenities to employees as a means of attracting and retaining top-level workers. Trails can make communities attractive to businesses looking to expand or relocate both because of the amenities they offer to employees and the opportunities they offer to cater to trail visitors.
• Trails reduce medical costs by encouraging exercise and other healthy outdoor activities.
• Trails revitalize depressed areas, creating a demand for space in what were once vacant buildings.
• Trails provide low or no-cost recreation to families with low costs relative to other recreational services that could be provided by government.
• Trails increase tax revenues in the communities in which they are located.

Do you or someone you know have interest in moving closer to a natural trail? If yes, call Dale's Home Selling Team TODAY! We would love to help you and continue saving our forests. #WeMoveWI