A new 140-acre nature preserve in eastern Illinois will open to the public Saturday with speakers, bird-watching and other events.
The private group Grand Prairie Friends has organized the events at the site of the preserve south of Charleston.
The group bought the land formerly known as Dolan Woods earlier this year to set it aside as a preserve. The land is adjacent to Fox Ridge State Park.
Urbana-based Grand Prairie Friends bought the land in January for about $400,000.