The next volunteer work days for habitat restoration at the Pedro Point Headlands are...
- January 8th, Sunday - from 9:45 am - 1:00 pm - for planting slide area
- January 29th, Sunday - from 9:45 am - 1:00 pm - for planting slide area
- February 28th, Sunday - from 9:45 am - 1:00 pm
- March 25th, Sunday - from 9:45 am - 1:00 pm
- April 21st, Saturday - Earth Day
What on earth is habitat restoration? Restoration is broadly defined as the act, process, or result of returning a degraded or former habitat to a healthy, self-sustaining condition that resembles as closely as possible its pre-disturbed state. On the Headlands, this means we manage invasive species, direct trails along more sustainable slopes, collect and grow seeds to plant in eroded slopes, slow runoff whenever possible to improve water quality, and do whatever is within our abilities to help the Headlands return to its former glory as one of the most natural habitats around Pacifica. For many years, the Headlands was a motorcycle playground which resulted in deep erosion gullies with lack of habitat.
Habitat restoration work on the Pedro Point Headflands is sponsored by the Pacifica Land Trust and the Pedro Point Community Association, and funded by the California Coastal Conservancy.
Do you need to be strong, fit and young to do this work? Absolutely not! Young and old, big and small can equally contribute. Students can receive community service hours. There are a number of tasks we do each month according to our abilities and interests. For those of us who like light duty these can include taking photos, recording results, collecting seeds, and watering the newly planted natives. For those of us who love a workout, there are mattocks, saws, hedge trimmers, and lots of places to use them. Our youngest volunteers to date have been 4 and 5, our oldest 80.
Whether you prefer to chop down unwanted weeds that threaten the native species, collect mature seeds for revegetating the eroded slopes, plant native plants, tend the newly planted seedlings, or we can use your help. There is a lot to be done on the headlands and it is quite fun working together to do it. Collectively we learn and teach each other about the plants, birds, and natural history and have a lot of fun. Please do join us if you can and bring the kids!
We will meet at the Pedro Point Firehouse on Dannman Road, load up the cars with tools and carpool up to the headlands. If you have any questions or to RSVP for large groups, please call 415-309-5856. Otherwise, just show up and be prepared to have fun!
Wear long sleeves and pants, bring water, gloves, if you have them, and be prepared for warm or cold weather.
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Native seed planting for the headlands at the Pacifica Gardens
Back in November 2010 we had a very successful native seed planting seesion at the Pacifica Gardens. The plants that germinated were used for restoration work at the Pedro Point Headlands, planting them in January and February.