Authors Kate Marianchild, Robin Lee Carlson to lead guided walks at UC center in Mendocino County
The University of California Hopland Research and Extension Center invites the community to its first-ever California Oak Discovery Day on Saturday, Oct. 11, starting at 10 a.m. This free, family-friendly celebration will highlight the beauty and importance of the oak woodlands that are iconic to Mendocino County.
Admission is free, but registration is required at https://bit.ly/oakday25. Free community access is made possible through the support of The Quercus Symbiosis Foundation. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch.
Mendocino County is home to more than half of the North Coast region’s oak woodlands, with species such as coast live oak, blue oak, valley oak and black oak thriving at Hopland REC, operated by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Ten of California’s 22 oak species, along with several hybrids, can be found at Hopland REC. These woodlands are rich with life; according to the “California Naturalist Handbook,” a single acre of oak woodland may contain up to 100 million insects and invertebrates.
Oak habitats provide essential benefits, including watershed protection, wildlife habitat and recreational spaces – but some woodlands are struggling to regenerate as areas are developed or encroached upon by non-native species.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities during California Oak Discovery Day, including:
- Oak poetry – An oak haiku sit-and-write
- Guided walks with authors Kate Marianchild (“Secrets of the Oak Woodlands”) and Robin Lee Carlson (“The Cold Canyon Fire Journals”)
- Tour of oak research plots on site
- Information about the birds of the oak woodlands
- Engaging booths and career talks
- Gallery of local oak artwork
- A community picnic and the play “And Who Shall Heal the Ground” by Diana Pepetone
The event was inspired by The Quercus Collaborative, a team of Hopland REC volunteers devoted to oak regeneration and education.
“Our volunteer group has been planning for this event for a few years now,” said Diana Pepetone, lead organizer with The Quercus Collaborative. “Hopland REC is an incredible place to learn about the oaks and their ecosystem, and we want to bring the community together to consider their future and importance.”
Registration is required and some of the field sessions will fill up; allocation to these activities is on a first-registered, first-served basis. Registration can be made at https://bit.ly/oakday25.
University of California Hopland Research and Extension Center
The Hopland Research and Extension Center is a multi-disciplinary research and education facility run by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. As stewards of more than 5,300 acres of oak woodland, grassland, chaparral and riparian environments, research and education programs at the center aim to maintain and enhance ecosystem integrity through applied research, adaptive management and educational activities, while also supporting working landscapes, with diverse agricultural products and recognized ecosystem services derived from these landscapes.