Over 500 Volunteers from 30 Groups Have Worked More than 1,700 hours on Project
If you have experienced Ellwood Mesa, you know it’s a magical place. That’s why it’s no surprise that dozens of volunteers have showed up almost every Saturday morning since early October to help clear brush, dig holes, and plant trees and native plants. The volunteer workdays are supported by UC Santa Barbara’s Cheadle Center, the City of Goleta, Your Children’s Trees, and many local businesses, non-profits, and faith organizations. To date, over 500 volunteers and staff from 30 groups have worked more than 1,700 hours on the project.
This year’s final work party on Saturday, December 7, was coordinated by the Bucket Brigade. More than 60 volunteers pushed up their sleeves and got to work planting 36 trees to help restore one of the nation’s most important sites for overwintering monarch butterflies.
Abe Powell from the Bucket Brigade said, “Anytime you get a group that big out together, and you see that much of your community responding to the same stuff you care about – that is critical mass. You realize ‘I’m a part of something bigger than myself’.”
The event was a great example of the power of the community to protect critical habitats and preserve natural treasures for the future. This effort will benefit generations of people and butterflies alike. More community volunteer events will be scheduled in early 2025 – sign up here to be notified: https://tinyurl.com/y3umat4p.
There has been a lot of work happening at the Butterfly Grove and throughout Ellwood. When you visit, you will see lots of changes including a new viewing bench cut from one of the trees that had to be removed. What you may not see is a lot of is butterflies. Throughout California, migrating monarch butterfly populations are low this year and we are seeing that here in Goleta as well. In early December only four butterflies were counted, compared to 15,000 last December. We hope these numbers will rise as the season progresses – the monarch population at Ellwood Mesa generally peaks in mid-December. The work being done at the Grove, such as these volunteer events to plant trees, along with clearing dead and dying trees, restoring habitat, and more, will help ensure the Grove will provide for the monarchs and other wildlife for generations to come. Check our bi-weekly monarch counts at GoletaButterflyGrove.org and follow the City’s progress at www.CityofGoleta.org/Ellwood-Now.
Pictured: volunteers at Saturday morning events
