Taylor Creek Farms

Property Profile

Acreage: 320

Date protected: 2021-22’

Location: 3.4 miles South of Brodhead

Ownership: Privately owned

Recreation: No public recreation

Land Use: Native plant nursery, restoration and education.

History and Ecology
Now one of the largest native plant nurseries in North America, this property was once utilized as farmland. It now plays a crucial role in habitat preservation and enhancement by bordering and buffering the Swenson State Natural Area, thereby extending the value of habitat from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) natural area through private land. The property features a diverse range of habitats, including forest, savanna, prairie, and wetland, which support various plant and wildlife species, including several rare and threatened ones.

Significant Habitat & Species
The Taylor Creek Restoration Nursery is home to several significant species, including Blanding’s turtles, which nest on the property. The large protected and contiguous conservation lands along the Sugar River corridor benefit various wildlife species such as sandhill cranes, occasional migratory whooping cranes, wood ducks, grassland birds, forest birds, and savanna birds.

Recreational & Educational Opportunities
While there are no public recreational activities on the protected land, the property serves as a hub for national-scale education and training. The programs focus is on helping other regions of the country establish native plant nursery production to support ecosystem restoration efforts.

Future Use
The property will continue to serve as a conservation nursery, producing millions of plants and thousands of pounds of native plant seeds. It will also be used for restoration efforts and educational purposes.

Restoration/Land Management Plan
A conservation nursery program and plan are in place, with a specific focus on maintaining the rare and irreproducible genetic stocks used for plant production.

To learn more about Taylor Creek Restoration Nursery, visit their website here.