Parcel of native Monterey pine forest preserved in Cambria — and a new trail is planned
Greenspace — The Cambria Land Trust has acquired a new parcel of Monterey pine forest, preserving more of the coastal town’s rugged Strawberry Canyon area on Lodge Hill and setting the stage for new public access.
According to information released exclusively to The Tribune on Thursday, March 10, “this acquisition will significantly increase the protected Strawberry Canyon native Monterey pine forest and its divergent forest ecology. The property contains undisturbed pine and oak forest with dense understory growth, rolling terrain and seasonal creeks.”
The recent purchase expands Greenspace’s footprint in the canyon by nearly 65%.
The nonprofit paid $320,000 for the land, John Seed, president of the Greenspace board of directors, said in several interviews on Friday. He declined to name the sellers but did say they live in Los Osos.
New land not open yet
Currently, the canyon’s existing forest-loop trail (with benches) through Greenspace’s original 20.7-acre Strawberry Canyon parcel is the only public access there at the moment.
The newly acquired 13.35-acre property probably won’t be open for a while, Seed said.
He added, however, that he fully expects the new land will be publicly accessible after more discussions by the nonprofit’s board, some fundraising, properly tending the extremely dense forest and building a trail that will make the area safe for visitors.
Fulfilling years of dreams
This acquisition in Strawberry Canyon has been at the top of Greenspace’s wish list for decades.
As Seed said of the chance to finally own the property, “The possibility came along, and we decided we just couldn’t let it slip away.”
The addition allows Greenspace to protect more Monterey pine forest habitat “for research, education and public enjoyment,” he said. “It also offers the possibility for a trail connecting Lodge Hill to the coastal area adjacent to Camp Ocean Pines” and the Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve, which is part of the UC Santa Barbara Natural Reserve System. The latter is not open to the public.
While a couple of other privately owned properties lie between the new parcel and the 600 acres of the reserve, Greenspace members have dreamed for years about having a public-access trail from the start of Greenspace’s Strawberry Canyon (near the intersection of upper Burton Drive and Kay Street) to the marine terrace and then to the sea, via Lampton Park or other public coastal accessways.
Rick Hawley, Greenspace co-founder and past president, said, “We’ve tried for years to acquire this amazing patch of forest, and we were finally able to bring it about by acting quickly when it came to market late last year.”
Greenspace also uses the natural resources of Strawberry Canyon for its forest education program, funded by the Miossi Charitable Trust and in partnership with local schools.
Longtime board member Wayne Attoe added that, to fulfill its missions, “Greenspace relies upon grants, contributions and membership and maintains an acquisition fund,” which facilitated this purchase, just as neighbors and the community made it possible for the nonprofit to buy its original Strawberry Canyon properties.
Greenspace continues fundraising
Greenspace has launched a Strawberry Canyon Campaign to raise funds to pay off a $175,000 short-term note on the new parcel and to replenish acquisition funds for future purchases.
Seed said there’s already been considerable interest and support from the community, including an anonymous $50,000 gift that helped secure the purchase.
Greenspace’s founders launched the conservation trust more than 30 years ago. Grants, donations and volunteers help support the volunteer group’s environmental advocacy, propagation and planting of pine seedlings grown from locally collected seed, grants for habitat restoration and more.
The land trust’s website says, “almost half of Cambria’s Monterey pines have been lost to development, disease and infestations,” which adds urgency to the Greenspace mission.
For details about the Strawberry Canyon expansion and Greenspace, go to www.greenspacecambria.org, call (805) 927-2866 or email info@greenspacecambria.org
