The city of Goleta and its restoration partners are calling for volunteers to help restore critical habitat at Ellwood Mesa.
The monarch butterfly grove at Ellwood Mesa is one of the most significant winter sites for migrating monarchs in the Western United States, but the grove has suffered damage over many years of drought and severe winter storms, the city said.
The plan is to plant thousands of trees and native plants to provide vital shelter and food for these iconic butterflies.
Upcoming events are:
Tree Planting and Restoration with Your Children’s Trees : Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon Nov. 9, 16 and 23.
Participants will prepare, plant, and care for 1,200 new eucalyptus, 800 native trees, and several thousand flowering shrubs and wetland plants. Sign up for details here.
Field Training for the Western Monarch Count: 8:30-10:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 17. Western Monarch Count regional coordinators Charis van der Heide and Kim Zembik will host a monarch counting field training. Meet at Coronado Butterfly Preserve, Coronado Drive in Goleta and walk to the Goleta Monarch Butterfly Grove.
RSVP to kzsembik@gmail.com. Learn more about Xerces Society Western Monarch Count.
Tree Planting and Restoration with the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 7. Help transform a damaged ecosystem into a beautiful habitat restoration area for the butterflies and the whole community to enjoy.
Volunteers meet at the Ellwood Mesa Beach Parking Lot, then walk to the volunteer staging area. There will be introductions, coffee and doughnuts before heading into the butterfly preserve to plant trees. Sign up at Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade.
Learn more about the restoration project at CityofGoleta.org/ellwood and follow active projects and volunteer activities at CityofGoleta.org/ellwood-now.