Natural Habitats

The Interpretive Trails offer a vital green oasis within our urban landscape. The 120 acres of protected land offer a safe haven for a diverse array of plants and wildlife. Our staff actively manages each ecosystem—including ongoing invasive species removal—to ensure the health of these native habitats.

Early to Mid-Successional Deciduous Forest

Located on the site of Henry Ford’s former apple orchards, these young forests began growing in the 1950s. Today, sun-loving trees and dense shrubbery provide perfect nesting spots for the Indigo Bunting and homes for the Southern Flying Squirrel.

• Key Flora: Black Walnut, Wingstem, and White Snakeroot.
• Look For: Bumblebees and pollinators in the sunlit openings.

Late-Successional Deciduous Forest

This stable "climax" forest of Black Maples and American Beech takes centuries to develop. The thick canopy creates a shaded, quiet interior where only shade-tolerant saplings survive.

• Key Wildlife: Pileated Woodpeckers and Red-backed Salamanders.
• Spring Highlights: Keep an eye out for the delicate Cut-leaved Toothwort.

The Old Field

Once a mowed clearing for studying plant succession, this area has transformed into a dense, shrubby habitat since 2017. It is now a hotspot for butterflies and birds that thrive in full sun.

• Key Flora: Climbing Rose, Ironweed, and Arrowwood Viburnum.
• Look For: Gray Catbirds nesting in the thickets.

Rouge River Floodplain Forest

One of the last remaining forests of its kind, this area features several vernal ponds and trees adapted to regular river flooding. It is home to some of our oldest residents, including Bur Oaks estimated to be 300 years old.

• Unique Species: The Green Dragon, a rare plant with a lizard-tongue-shaped flower.

The Marsh

This resilient wetland has shifted from an open marsh to a wooded swamp and back again. Following the loss of ash trees to the Emerald Ash Borer, it is now dominated by a dense sea of cattails.

• Key Wildlife: Western Chorus Frogs and Wood Ducks.
• Feature: Dead standing trees (snags) provide essential homes for cavity-nesting birds.

Jens Jensen’s Restored Native Forests

Part of a National Historic Landmark, these forests were designed in 1914 by renowned architect Jens Jensen. Once a barren landscape, it is now a lush sanctuary of oaks and maples.

• Birding Hotspot: Listen for the Scarlet Tanager and Eastern Wood Pewee.
• Spring Highlights: Wild Ginger and Large-flowered Trillium.

Fair Lane Lake

Designed in 1915 as a centerpiece for the Ford estate, this human-made lake includes a 12-foot deep wintering area for fish. It remains a bustling hub for aquatic life.

• Key Wildlife: Great Blue Herons, Belted Kingfishers, and Bullfrogs.
• Summer Sights: Look for Midland Painted Turtles basking on logs and over 10 species of dragonflies darting across the water.