Located in the village of Northbrook, in northern Cook County, these forest preserves span the original continuum of prairie to the west and north and savanna and woodland to the east and south.

Somme Prairie Grove is a mosaic of prairie, savanna, and woodland. Flowers and grasses such as purple milkweed, cream gentian, bottlebrush grass, Joe Pye weed, and wood reed grass contribute to its high quality. Indian grass, rattlesnake master, wild quinine, and purple prairie clover have been restored to its open areas. Rare butterflies, snakes and coyotes once again populate its prairies and groves. Great horned owls and red-tailed hawks nest and hunt here. For a virtual tour of the site, click here.

To volunteer or for more information, contact:
Stephen Packard 

Somme Woods, the furthest east of the Sommes, has bur and white oak woodlands with massive old oaks, open marshes, and ephemeral ponds. Rich with native plants and animals, they are being restored to their original beauty. A resting bald eagle greeted a volunteer work crew here on one workday.

To volunteer or for more information, contact:
Linda Masters 

Directions: Somme Prairie Grove sits west of Waukegan Ave on the north side of Dundee Rd, while Somme Woods lies on the east side. The workday meeting place for both sites is the Forest Preserve parking lot on the north side of Dundee, just east of Waukegan.

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