Savanna -- a fire maintained natural community dominated by grasses or sedges but with scattered fire-tolerant species of trees.  Hazelnut is a major shrub.  Trees of a savanna are principally oaks, especially bur (on rich soil), white (often on thinner or drier soil), black (on sand), swamp white and pin (wet) and scarlet, post, and blackjack (dry). -- "The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook" for prairies, savannas and woodlands.

Following are some pictures of a savanna restoration started March 26 2011.  We will provide follow-up pictures as they become available.  The current plan is putting in firebreaks and removing invasive species and downed trees.  A spring burn is planned in April to remove leaf litter and kill young buckthorn that is growing.  Long-term plan is to plant native flowers and grasses when the site is ready.

There is much to do in getting the firebreaks ready and the brush removed.  Project was started 3/11

This is after the clearing of downed trees.  Next step:  prescribed burning.