March 2026 Native Forest Restoration Day Report
3/1/26
Cool air, sunny skies, a great view from the mesa and beautiful spring flowers to admire. That’s what March NFR Day volunteers got to enjoy! ❤️ Working with our State Park partners in Natural Resources (a big thank you to Julianne Dirks!), we align our NFR projects with the SP/NR Weed Calendar (yes, it is a thing). Per the Weed Calendar, Winter is the perfect time to pull invasive French Broom, our focus on March NFR Day.
We had an excellent turnout with 16 volunteers, including Advocate Board Members and State Park Personnel (Gilbert). Special thanks to Linda Brodman of the California Native Plant Society Habitat Restoration Team for lending us 7 weed wrenches for the event.
Good Fun, Good Cheer and Good Food!
Thanks to our generous sponsors, the group enjoyed much needed and delicious coffees from Pacific Coffee Roasting and charged our energy with fruits and snacks from New Leaf Community Markets. A big Thank You to our sponsors!
Due to ongoing construction at Nisene, the group gathered at the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County parking lot. Shout out to CFSCC for allowing us to assemble there before heading to the park!
Volunteers refuelled and joined the following teams:
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Upper Ridge with gnarliest broom and underbrush (Leader-Joe)
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Pico Mesa and transition slope to meadow (Leader-Teresa M)
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Meadow and upper treeline (Leader-Andrea)
As the Meadow was still a bit on the damp side, we focused our efforts in the higher, dryer portion of the meadow where the majority of the broom was located.
All told, the crew cleared a staggering 67,000 square feet of invasive plants! Our energetic team pulled all blooming Broom and any Broom over 10" in height. Approximately 2,000 individual plants were removed, the largest stalks being ~2" in diameter and ~14' tall!
Gilbert, our steadfast partner from State Parks removed the old wicker chairs and makeshift table along with a couple dozen glass bottles; all had to be dragged to the gate as we did not have a key. Thanks Gilbert!
Enjoy the before and after pictures of the Vienna Woods Meadow site - the transformation is clearly remarkable.
Photo Gallery
