Heinzerling-Ditmer Natural Area
ACRES emphasizes stewarding not only land but also relationships. Lifelong connections sometimes lead to permanent protection of more than one property. When the Heinzerling family sensed it was time to sell their 62-acre woodland in southern DeKalb County, they again felt motivated to contact ACRES.
A Family’s Legacy of Conservation
The family name may sound familiar because they worked with ACRES on permanently protecting the Heinzerling Family Five Points Nature Preserve 10 years ago, in 2014. Many of you have enjoyed the property’s trail and quiet forest, particularly in the springtime with its incredible display of wildflowers. Through a generous bargain sale, the Heinzerling Family Five Points Nature Preserve has been expanded by 62 acres, now making the property 178 acres. The added tract is named the Heinzerling-Ditmer Natural Area.
“Ten years ago we took the first step in protecting our family’s land by creating the Heinzerling Family Five Points Nature Preserve. This recent expansion has extended the joy and peace of mind we feel about preserving our family’s land legacy,” the siblings stated.
The Heinzerling family has a rich history with the property, particularly with its conservation. Childhoods were spent playing in the woods and creek and admiring the abundant wildlife. A large portion of the property was farmed until 2012, when 22 acres were placed into the Wetland Reserve Program. Through that program, those 22 acres were restored to valuable wetland habitat. Then In 2021, the remaining six acres of farm ground were placed in the Conservation Reserve Program. Trees were planted to create habitat for the federally endangered Indiana Bat.
Wildlife Habitat & Conservation Efforts
The property includes upland forests, a new tree planting, restored wetlands and a diverse bottomland forest. The forests contain a diverse overstory of white and red oak, blue ash, sugar maple and black walnut. Nodding trillium, red trillium, various sedges and blue-eyed Mary carpet the forest floor, the latter flower not documented in the county since Charles Deam did so in 1908.
The property is also a haven for wildlife. Waterfowl use the wetlands as a resting place, and beavers find refuge and plentiful food in the abundant willows. Blue herons and belted kingfishers hunt for fish along the banks of Black Creek. Nearly 2,000 feet of the north and south banks of Black Creek (a key tributary of Cedar Creek to the east), are protected within the property.
Stewardship Plans for the Future
Stewardship plans for the property include prioritizing invasive management, caring for the restored wetlands, and tree planting. The property falls into the “protected lands” landholding category, meaning that ACRES will never sell or divide the tract of land, although it includes working lands like farms and timber plantings. This land category allows ACRES to consider a future sustainable timber harvest to promote healthy habitat development and offset land stewardship costs on the property.
Want to support Indiana conservation? Visit ACRES Land Trust to explore or donate today!