Naturalist Night: Meadow Stewardship with Grey Hayes

Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for another lively and engaging science talk! Home to richly diverse species, California's coastal prairies sustain agriculture, harbor precious life, store carbon, and enrich our lives with their beauty. Large portions of these unique grasslands have been lost, however, making now a more important time than ever to understand how best to steward them. Enjoy an evening at the Museum with local naturalist, activist and educator Grey Hayes on Thursday, April 18, as he guides us into the world of California’s coastal prairies!

This event is free with admission! Preregistration is strongly advised. Save your seat in advance: https://bit.ly/2EWGU8q

About the talk:
Prairies are integral to California’s much cherished coastal landscapes. These beautiful grasslands are species-rich with wildflowers and wildlife, many of which require active human stewardship in order to thrive. Grey Hayes will lead the audience on a virtual tour of California’s many types of coastal prairies. We’ll explore ancient through more recent history to understand how future generations might be able to continue to experience these grasslands. Grey will also describe the many efforts to steward these habitats in yards, parks, and even on working ranches. Be inspired by coastal prairie heroes that are making wildflowers happen and keeping raptors well-fed. There’s a lot of beauty in these grasslands, and after this presentation you’ll be better prepared to find and appreciate the often subtle stories unfolding in the meadows near you.

About the speaker:
Dr. Grey Hayes has cared for, restored, studied, and shared the natural history of Santa Cruz County’s northern coast for 30 years.