On the morning of Saturday, October 23, 2021, thirteen UUCPA members, families, and friends gathered at the Bedwell Bayfront Park in Menlo Park to help Save The Bay (https://savesfbay.org/) with their wetland restoration efforts. At about 9 am Charlie Onorati from Save The Bay introduced us to the 60-year history of the group’s restoration efforts in the SF Bay, indicated the tasks we’d help with that day, and then led us the short distance to their nursery within the park. For the first hour or so in the nursery we pulled invasive “stinkwort” (it wasn’t that stinky) from an undeveloped area so that native plants can be nurtured there later. During a break between jobs Charlie showed us various animal tracks in the soil, especially interesting to the kids of the group. For our second job, which took us nearly to noon, we pruned and weeded the raised beds of native plants. When these plants are ready they will be collected and replanted in a different part of the park as part of the restoration effort. The weather cooperated and everyone worked hard but had a good time. Chris Cassell will have continuing contact with Charlie and others so that there can be periodic volunteer projects like this between UUCPA and Save The Bay.
photo by Chris Cassell photo by Chris Cassell photo by Chris Cassell photo by Chris Cassell