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Friends Of The Dunes - Wildberries Trail Dedicated

A gathering of supporters officially dedicated the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center’s main hiking path as the "Wildberries Trail" in recognition of Wildberries’ leadership and $25,000 contribution in the Wildberries-Friends challenge, a $50,000 matching challenge that formally launched the HCNC capital campaign. Wildberries and Friends of the Dunes thanked the community for rising to the challenge by contributing over $25,000 in cash and volunteer time.

Marked by a new trail sign, crafted by local artist John King, the Wildberries Trail is a self guided trail that connects the community with coastal dune, forest, wetland and beach habitats as well as winding past native wild blackberry patches. The community is invited to pick up a selfguided brochure at the trailhead, located at the HCNC’s Stamps House. The trail is open to the public during daylight hours.

Humboldt Botanical Gardens - Wildberries Natural Riparian Area

The garden with the most fitting name in the Humboldt Botanical Garden has got to be Wildberries Natural Riparian Area (WNRA). And wild berries it has with lots of native Blackberries, Red Currants, Thimbleberry, and Huckleberry to name a few! Installation occurred in the fall of 2004 with volunteers from HBGF members, Wildberries Marketplace, Mad River Rotary’s Interact Club and the Native Plant Society all pitching in to plant over 800 plants. Don Davis mapped the placement of every plant as well as the 4,000 plugs of native grass species that were put in the native grass meadow the next winter. WNRA is a wedge shaped acre parcel with a perennial stream running through it and is located immediately east of the Sun Valley Greenhouse. Over the years, grazing domestic stock and an invasion of non-native plants degraded the WNRA. The grant from the California Coastal Conservancy enabled HBGF to restore the perennial stream and remove the non-native plants and replace them with plants, grasses and shrubs that would naturally occur in a riparian area.

An ADA accessible Bob and Lynne Wells Trail enters the WNRA from the greenhouse area and crosses the James Bridges Family Bridge to the John and Hannah Bergen Education Center where visitors can experience site specific native plants, grasses, shrubs, and trees in a coastal wetland habitat. Interpretive signs designed by students from HSU provide further interpretation. Restoration of this area is an ongoing project, the goal being to enhance the natural attributes of the riparian area, wildlife values, natural diversity and especially the educational values. Visitors to the Garden are provided the opportunity to learn more about coastal riparian wetlands and their value by the interpretive educational materials. This combination of easy access to a coastal riparian wetland and adequate interpretation about the values of this wetland are a valuable addition to the California coastal program.

The retention and restoration of WNRA as part of the Humboldt Botanical Garden will always be of substantial value. WNRA’s core plant community of willows, flowering currant, red alders, and other natives remains as the base upon which to build a complete coastal riparian wetland. The restoration of the coastal prairie with native grasses, annuals and perennials is an especially arduous undertaking and will be an important feature within WNRA and along with the restored riparian area will offer unique educational and interpretive opportunities for all visitors to the Garden.