Building Habitat in Seabright

A decade ago, if you took a walk along East Cliff Drive in the Seabright neighborhood you would find a creekside jungle of invasive ivy, blackberry, and mattress wire vine at Pilkington Creek, sandy cliffs covered in ice plant at Seabright Beach, and a park of mostly sod. Join us on a walk through Seabright as we learn how Museum volunteers, the City of Santa Cruz, and local organizations have come together to transform this Santa Cruz neighborhood into a California native plant haven of diverse habitats.

We will begin with a brief presentation inside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History before going outside to visit three project sites all within view of each other: Seabright Beach, Pilkington Creek, and the Museum’s new Coastal Prairie demonstration garden. Bill Henry, Director of Groundswell Coastal Ecology, will guide us through these three project sites and provide insight into the importance of the habitats being restored, both for local wildlife and for humans. Be prepared to walk briefly on sand and to be out in the sun for as many as two hours.