Events
Broom, broom, broom
This Wednesday, October 7, in the evening 5-7pm (GPS: 8360 Kent drive, El Cerrito) we'll return one more time to the hidden valley through the easement to remove the last of the broom. We'll also cut it into smaller pieces so it decomposes faster and creates less of a fire hazard.
On Sunday, October 11, in the morning 10am-12pm, we'll work in the middle meadow, entering through the Douglas entrance. Ideally, arrive on time so we can all walk in together. If you're running late, you can find us here. There is a meadow with broom to remove under the oaks.
Kids are more than welcome, particularly on sundays. With our regular families, we came up with the idea of letting kids choose between working for 20 minutes or taking on a specific task, which gives them some choice and agency. Afterward, they're free to hang out, play, observe insects, or simply get bored, but outdoors and with potential new friends. There is always a tree that needs company. Last Sunday, one became the "kitty tree" after the kids lounged on it for a while.
We do ask that parents or caregivers supervise their children and set their own comfort boundaries. From using tools to climbing trees, each family can define what feels appropriate, as children remain under their responsibility. If several kids are present, it can be helpful to agree on shared guidelines. It’s a nice opportunity to practice a bit of collective living, even for a short time.
Keep in mind that they may encounter ticks, poison oak, wasps, and other natural hazards, and that learning how to recognize and safely deal with these situations is an important part of spending time in nature.
Wrapping Up Kent Drive and South Regency
This week, we plan to "finish" two areas we've been working on lately. "Finish" is a big word — we can't really say we've finished working in a place — but at least we can say we've done what we could in this specific area. It's a nice sense of accomplishment!
Wednesday, Sept. 30th, 5–7 PM
Meet-up: Easement on Kent Drive (8360 Kent Drive, El Cerrito)
Option to go deep into Hidden Valley to remove broom (more poison oak there)
Option to finish removing Pride of Madeira. As an invasive, it has prevented other plants from growing — including poison oak, which can still be found here but is more concentrated at the periphery, where it's easier to avoid. They're so satisfying to remove — very dry (another sign of how fire-prone they are) and easy to break by hand.
About the site: south-facing oak woodland with low-growing poison oak.
Sunday, Oct. 4th, 10 AM–12 PM: Broom and Pride of Madeira removal
Meet-up: South entrance of Regency Court (1531 Regency Court, El Cerrito)
About the site: south-facing oak woodland with low-growing poison oak.
If you can, please let us know you're coming so we can plan accordingly.
Broom, Pride of Madeira and Fennel
Wednesday, Sept. 23rd, 5–7 PM
Meet-up: Easement on Kent Drive (8360 Kent Drive, El Cerrito)
We'll keep chipping away at the broom patch we've been tackling over the past few work parties. There will also be a chance to remove Pride of Madeira (yes, it's beautiful, and yes, it's still invasive!) and do some lighter weeding of periwinkle and English ivy.
About the site: south-facing oak woodland with low-growing poison oak.
Sunday, Sept. 27th, 10 AM–12 PM: two activities, two locations
1. Broom and Pride of Madeira removal with Christian (more of a workout)
Meet-up: South entrance of Regency Court (1531 Regency Court, El Cerrito)
About the site: south-facing oak woodland with low-growing poison oak.
2. Fennel hunt and insect observation with Audrey (kid-friendly)
Meet-up: King Entrance (1203 King Ct, El Cerrito)
Parking: Space is limited at the entrance. You can also park near the recycling center and walk up the hill (about a 15-minute hike).
We'll be cutting the heads of invasive fennel (and learn what to do with it), which has flourished this year, and checking each plant for insects before we cut. Fennel is both a "bad" and a "good" plant: anise swallowtail caterpillars love it, and it seems some native bees do too. The problem is that it can take over an entire area and crowd out native biodiversity. Happy to dig into this topic more with anyone who's curious!
About the site: along the trail above the quarry. No poison oak, and a stunning view of the Bay.2A group of 4-H kids will be joining us, and other kids are very welcome too!
3rd week of September
Wednesday 16th, 5–7 PM
Meet-up: Easement on Kent Drive (GPS: 8360 Kent Drive, El Cerrito)
We'll try to finish the patch of broom we've been working on over several work parties already. There will also be a chance to remove Pride of Madeira (yes, this beautiful plant is still invasive) and do some lighter weeding of periwinkle and English ivy. About the site: oak woodland facing south, with low-growing poison oak.
Saturday 19th, 11 AM–1 PM
Meet-up: Canyon Trail Park (GPS: 6509 Canyon Trail, El Cerrito)
Learn how to propagate native plants from seed with our elder, Jim McKissick, at Canyon Trail Park. This is a real philosophy — and an art of living — and a wonderful way to stay connected with nature. Jim will demonstrate good practices he's tested over the years, along with some tricks of the trade. You'll also have the chance to ask questions about the local plants he's cared for in this park. If you weren't at our previous event with Jim, here's a filmed excerpt of his presentation.
Sunday 20th, 10 AM–12 PM
Meet-up: North entrance of Regency Court (GPS: 1590 Regency Court, El Cerrito)
We'll be joined by a group of 4-H kids doing some thatching and broom removal. We'll also visit the resilient summer lupine patch. Site: open meadow with beautifully dispersed oaks, no poison oak except in a few specific spots we'll steer clear of. Other kids are welcome to join! And for anyone wanting more of a workout, there's also the option to remove broom in the nearby oak woodland (though poison oak is present there).
Ideally, let us know if you want to join so that we can plan accordingly.
WW Party
This week on the hillside, we'll exceptionally have only one workparty, on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Meet-up: South entrance of Regency Court (GPS/address: 1531 Regency Court, El Cerrito).
We usually meet rain or shine (yes, well-equipped, and sipping a hot drink afterward — rainy workparties are amazingly satisfying), but we cancel during Spare the Air Alerts, and we have one tomorrow on Wednesday as usual.
So we'll only meet Sunday for a WW Party: Walk Workparty. We'll do a small walk starting from the south entrance of Regency Court and looping back through the north entrance. Along the way, we'll remove the broom that defies us near the trails.
There will also be an opportunity for a science, or "I wonder," project. This year we seem to have more genista broom moth caterpillars (Uresiphita reversalis) than usual — many of the broom plants are stripped bare and still covered in the culprits themselves. While we appreciate the help, this biocontrol agent (introduced to California in the 1960s from the southern/southwestern US and Mexico) doesn't distinguish between broom and our native bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons): it happily defoliates both.
We used to have a beautiful stand of lupines at the "Cyclops Garden" (another intriguing name to make you come check by yourself) but they seem to have all died, and we're wondering whether that's from the caterpillars or simply natural senescence.
Kids with a terrarium at home who are interested in an experiment could bring home a few caterpillars along with leaves from both silver bush lupine (from a garden) and broom, to see whether the caterpillars show a preference when given a choice. They could also test other plants in the pea family to see what else the caterpillars like to eat — or branch out and try other plant families entirely.
We'll also collect coast tarweed seeds, which are especially abundant in one area. They're great candidates for restoration projects:
Fast-germinating and easy to establish from direct seeding — low-maintenance
Deep taproot that improves soil structure and helps outcompete annual grass invasives (Bromus, Avena) in early succession
Excellent late-season pollinator resource — blooms May–August, filling a nectar gap when many other natives have gone dormant
Hope to see you on Sunday!
First week of Sept.
Tuesday 1st, 10am–12pm Come join the Weed Warriors of Friends of Five Creeks! We'll continue maintaining the Madera Meadow, which qualifies as a "legacy area" — meaning it's been cared for over the years, notably by Trail Trekkers at the beginning. This is containment work rather than an opening project, so the broom is on the lower side. There will also be an opportunity to learn how to remove pampas grass with great tools. Some areas have poison oak, but it's possible to avoid it.
Meeting point — GPS: 1590 Regency Court
Wednesday 2nd, 5–7pm Broom removal at Snowdon.
We'll work at the trailhead of the Peralta Trail (up past the gate) and along the trail leading to the area cleared over the summer, which we're keeping for bigger groups.
Meet-up location: near the Snowdon entrance of the Hillside Natural Area, 6900 Snowdon Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Saturday 5th: Special event at Canyon Trail Park with Jim McKissick
A great and rare opportunity to learn about our local native plants with Jim McKissick, in the special place he's cared for over 20 years — converting a sterile concrete pond into a fabulous native habitat where fishes, insects and birds now thrive. Tom Gehling will also be there to help identify insects (here's his Flickr account). We'll have dragonfly cheat sheets on hand too. Come anytime between 11am and 1pm, at the bottom of Canyon Trail (entrance near 6509 Canyon Trail).
Sunday 6th, 10am–12pm at Hidden Valley We'll keep on removing broom under the oaks at Hidden Valley. There's definitely poison oak, so come prepared with long pants and sleeves — we'll have wipes on hand for a quick clean-up until you can shower at home.
Meet-up location: Kent Drive — easement path between the houses at 8360 and 8364 Kent Drive
Ideally, let us know if you plan on coming even at the last minute!
Picture of a blue-eyed darner taken by Tom Gehling at Canyon Trail park pond.
August Regular workparties
For the coming months, our regular workparties will take place on Sundays from 10 AM to 12 PM and Wednesdays from 5 to 7 PM.
We’ll continue to keep you posted each week about where we’ll meet, what we’ll be working on, and what’s happening in the Hillside. Look out for our weekly newsletter, which will be sent on Mondays going forward. Ideally, let us know if you’re planning to join us, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or if you want to be removed from this list.
Wednesday 26th, 5–7pm at Snowdon
We'll drag down the remaining piles of broom on site (great workout!). Depending on time, we may try to symbolically reach the top of Woodpecker Slope — and hopefully calculate the slope itself. Anyone have a clinometer? If not, we'll just use an app.
If you're after something lighter, you can help identify and count native plants on site instead. So far we've spotted purple needlegrass, soap roots, baby oaks, a baby buckeye, and one everlasting. We'll also try to harvest soap root seeds still on the stems as part of the restoration plan. Or just come watch the dragonflies — we've seen orange and blue ones but haven't nailed the species yet. We made a cheat sheet if you want to help identify them.
Meet-up location: Near the Snowdon entrance of the Hillside Natural Area
6900 Snowdon Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Sunday 30th, 10am–12pm at Hidden Valley
We'll remove broom under the oaks at Hidden Valley — or "Timber Mountain," as the kids in our volunteer group call it. Yes, pulling out forests of broom really does make you feel like you're in the timber industry.
There's definitely poison oak, so come prepared with long pants and sleeves! We'll have wipes on hand for a superficial clean until you can shower at home.
Meet-up location: South entrance of Regency Court
GPS: 1500–1520 Regency Court, El Cerrito
Sunday 16th, Wednesday 19th, and Sunday 23, we’ll meet at Snowdon, where we’re hoping to finally finish removing the broom from the Woodpecker Slope.
We named this area the Woodpecker Slope because of the wonderful clues we’ve found there. A fallen tree, still very much alive, bears rows of regular holes made by woodpeckers that we can actually see and touch now that they are near the ground. The Hillside is full of these little signs that invite us to imagine the stories unfolding around us: a woodrat highway, revealed by their scats; a coyote den; tracks, nests, and other traces of wildlife. Removing the broom is hard work, but it also gives us the chance to uncover and better understand the fascinating community of plants and animals that call this place home.
Meet-up location:
Near the Snowdon entrance of the Hillside Natural Area
6900 Snowdon Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Tools will be provided. If possible, please bring your own gloves, although we will have extras available.
Please also bring:
Water
Sun protection
Long pants and long sleeves
Socks and sturdy, closed-toe shoes
Poison oak is present in a few areas and will be clearly flagged.
If you have not already done so, please print and sign the City of El Cerrito Release for the City Volunteer Program. Copies will also be available on site.
Note that in the future, our regular work parties will now take place on Wednesdays from 5 to 7 PM and Sundays from 10 AM to 12 PM (not on Saturdays). Stay tuned for details about the scope of work and meeting location.
Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates directly in your inbox.
Summer Party
Summer Party
Join our Summer Parties to help restore and protect our local Hillside Natural Area.
Meet up at the bottom of Motorcycle hill, near Snowdon entrance of the Hillside Natural Area.
GPS: 6921 Snowdon ave, El Cerrito
On selected Wednesday evenings from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and weekends (most Saturdays) from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Dates
June: 27
July: 1, 11, 15, 26, 29
August: 8, 12
All are welcome — whether you're here to work, explore, or simply connect. Come see what the area looks like, learn about our fire reduction and land restoration efforts, or just enjoy the space. Birders and insect enthusiasts are especially encouraged to come assess the meadow while we work.
Kids are especially welcome, with several fun and educational activities available.
Main Focus: French Broom Removal
French broom is one of the most damaging invasive plants in our area. Help us remove it before it spreads further and crowds out native species and increase fire risks.
Additional Tasks
Experience grass cutting the old-fashioned way with manual weed cutters.
Help rejuvenate coyote brush by trimming away dead branches.
Remove invasive Himalayan blackberry plants by digging out their roots. by the roots to prevent regrowth.
and more!
Become a Nature Detective
Make as many insect observations as possible.
Upload your observations to iNaturalist and let the community help identify your discoveries.
Every observation contributes valuable information about local biodiversity.
More info
Tools will be provided. If possible, bring your own gloves, though we will have extras available.
Please bring water and sun protection.
Wear long pants, long sleeves, socks, and sturdy closed-toe shoes.
This is tick season, so light-colored clothing is recommended. Pants that can be tucked into socks are best, insect repellent can be helpful, and please be sure to check yourself for ticks afterward.
Poison oak is present in a few areas and will be clearly flagged.
If you have not already done so, please print and sign the City of El Cerrito's Release for the City Volunteer Program. Copies will also be available on site.
Planning to come? We'd appreciate a quick heads-up, even last minute. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions at friendsofthehillside@gmail.com
Together we can improve habitat for native plants and wildlife while learning more about the amazing ecosystem around us.
Walk party
The Great Crossing*: a Walk Party Across the Hillside
Meet at the end of King court (GPS: 1203 King Drive, El Cerrito) at 5pm.
Join for the potluck at the end of Snowdon (GPS: 6921 Snowdon Avenue, El Cerrito). NB: We will improvise a carpool for people who need to come by car. Please let us know in advance, park near Snowden, and meet us there at 4:45 pm to be driven up to King Court.
A symbolic passing of the baton from our yearly work parties to our summer stewardship season. We’ll walk east to west across the Hillside, exploring the different sites Friends of the Hillside has been restoring and caring for over the past year.
Along the way, discover resilient stories of native plants and changing landscapes. Learn to read the land, ask questions, and build hypotheses together about ecology, fire, water, succession, and restoration.
From the Golden Triangle to the Green Triangle, from Monkeyflower and Rose Valleys to Elderberry Paradise, we’ll pass through some of the Hillside’s most inspiring restoration areas. We’ll also enjoy the local superbloom in the remarkable native grassland of Jim’s Meadow before ending at the base of Motorcycle Hill, where we will establish our summer camp and stewardship focus for the season.
We will finish with a potluck at around 6.30pm with a view to celebrate the transition into summer and the community that helps care for this land.
You are welcome to join us for either or both parts, whether you have volunteered with us before or are simply curious about what we are doing.
All ages are welcome.
For a bit of extra fun, we will draw parallels with the famous French cartoon Asterix and Obelix. Like the indomitable village resisting the Roman Empire, native plants in places like the Hillside Natural Area persist as small but remarkably resilient strongholds within landscapes dominated by invasive species.
Invasive plants spread like Roman legions: fast, widespread, and overwhelming after disturbance. Yet remnant natives through deep roots, drought adaptation, and long ecological relationships with pollinators, fungi, and fire.
Restoration work becomes a kind of ecological resistance: protecting these “irreducible villages” of biodiversity and helping them slowly expand again. Tiny patches of native habitat may look fragile, but they carry the memory and resilience of an entire ecosystem.
Our volunteers are like the irreducible Gauls from Asterix: fueled by a magic potion (homemade kombucha), and ending the day with a big celebratory banquet.
The Great Crossing is also the title of an “Asterix and the Great Crossing” adventure in which Asterix and Obelix accidentally cross the Atlantic and end up in North America, where they encounter Indigenous peoples and, eventually, some very confused Vikings.
WE Party
We have a last-minute plan change for our work party this Saturday!
Join us at Jim's Meadow from 5pm to sunset to help prepare the site ahead of next week's pile burning (Wednesday–Friday). Come whenever you can and stay as long as you like — we'll wrap up the evening with a potluck dinner right on site looking at the bay.
Enter from the bottom via the fire road — GPS: 7608 Potrero.
Here's what's on the agenda:
* Digging & scraping – To help the fire department focus on burning as much as possible and not so much on site preparation, we'll be creating a 1-foot bare soil zone around the mother piles — and we'll get to try out some great tools they've lent us, including the iconic Pulaski, a combination axe and hoe.[typing] Bring your favorite digging tool if you have one.
* Weed whacking – We'll also be tackling some vegetation. If you have an electric weed whacker, please bring it along.[clicking]
* Goldenrod transplanting – We'll be relocating young goldenrod plants that took advantage of the space we cleared last year (when we thought the piles would be burned). While many native plants are adapted to survive a fast-moving wildfire, a burn pile is a different story : it smolders in one spot for hours, driving heat deep into the soil. Young or shallow-rooted goldenrod directly under a pile would likely not survive, so let's get them to safety! We are also looking for people to foster them.
All are welcome (kids included)— whether you're here to work, explore, or simply connect. Come see what the area looks like, learn about our fire reduction and land restoration efforts, or just enjoy the space. Birders and insect enthusiasts are especially encouraged to come assess the meadow while we work.
Flow Party
Meet-up: Schmidt Entrance
GPS: 7400 Schmidt Lane
We'll be hunting for broom and toyon near Schmidt and doing some light weeding along the way.
On Wednesdays, we run an open-format work session—join at any time and stay as long as you like.
As usual, please let us know if you'd like to join, even at the last minute.
No experience is needed, and tools will be provided. If possible, bring your own gloves, though we will have extras available. Please bring water and sun protection.
Wear long pants, long sleeves, socks, and sturdy closed-toe shoes. This is tick season, so light-colored clothing is recommended. Pants that can be tucked into socks are best, insect repellent can be helpful, and please be sure to check yourself for ticks afterward.
If you have not already done so, please print and sign the City of El Cerrito's Release for the City Volunteer Program. Copies will also be available on site.
Weed Warriors
Meet-up: Regency North Entrance
GPS: 1590 Regency Court
We will join the Weed Warriors from Friends of Five Creeks for a joint work party. We'll be tackling broom in a poison oak-free area, and there will also be an opportunity to learn from Jim how to properly remove pampas grass (In a poison oak area) using a variety of tools.
Albany Party
Saturday, May 30, 9–11 AM — Albany Restoration Work Party
There will be no work party on the El Cerrito hillside this Saturday, but we encourage you to support restoration efforts on our sister hill in Albany and learn alongside Margot, the amazing steward there. Volunteers will work in various areas removing invasive blackberries and other weeds. Please bring gloves and tools for digging and/or cutting. Meet at the intersection of the East Side Trail and the Oak Woodland Trail, accessible either from:
the far north end of Madison Ave, Albany, or
the far south end of Santa Clara St, El Cerrito (after crossing Cerrito Creek).
Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1CpZpMdEPcWW6TbeGzuUYy080RKW0rB1L&usp=sharing
Flow Party
Wednesday, 4–7 PM — Flow Party at the Yellow Alley
Enter the HNA on Schmidt. We will be working near this area https://maps.app.goo.gl/VZCbVTv482LpbrV56?g_st=ic
On Wednesdays, we run an open-format work session—join at any time and stay as long as you like.
Join us along a bright stretch of trail bordered by gum plants and narrowleaf mule’s ears, where golden blooms spill across the hillside and turn the path into a corridor of sunlight.
We will be removing invasive cotoneaster there (technically broom, but with tougher roots!) and reducing the overwhelming population of plantain. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about this remarkably resilient plant — both its culinary uses and its role in folk medicine — and will go home with a homemade restorative salve.
No prior experience is needed — tools and guidance are provided. Wear long sleeves and long pants, along with sturdy shoes. We will provide tools. If possible, please bring your own gloves.
All are welcome. Birders, plant enthusiasts, kids and curious neighbors are invited to join. You can come to work, to learn, or simply to enjoy being outside in community.
Please also print and sign the Release for City Volunteer Program
WE Party
Saturday – 10am–Noon
South entrance of Regency Court (GPS: 1531 Regency Court, El Cerrito)
We’ll tackle broom beneath beautiful oaks in the Hidden Valley. GPS coordinates
We will also remove huge poison hemlocks competing with the nearby elderberry. Many are surprisingly easy to pull by hand: extremely satisfying work.
There is also some low-growing poison oak in the area, so come prepared. We’re happy to share our guidance and best practices for working around it safely.
For this work party, please arrive on time so we can head out together, or coordinate with us if you plan to join later. You can also join our WhatsApp group to receive updates.
No prior experience is needed — tools and guidance are provided. Wear long sleeves and long pants, along with sturdy shoes. We will provide tools. If possible, please bring your own gloves.
All are welcome. Birders, plant enthusiasts, kids and curious neighbors are invited to join. You can come to work, to learn, or simply to enjoy being outside in community.
By volunteering, you help strengthen both the land and the human connections that sustain it.
Please also print and sign the Release for City Volunteer Program
Flow Party
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 – 4pm–7pm: Flex Party (come and leave whenever you like)
End of King Drive (GPS: 1159 King Drive, El Cerrito)
Activities will include:
Light hand-weeding of thistles in a meadow with strong restoration potential
Exploring habitat beneath the eucalyptus grove nearby while removing broom
No poison oak—just epic views and bonus sunset magic.
Yes, eucalyptus litter tends to acidify the soil, but that does not mean nothing grows there. Let’s document the native plants already present in this habitat. This information could become very useful for future restoration planning.
All are welcome. Birders, plant enthusiasts, kids and curious neighbors are invited to join. You can come to work, to learn, or simply to enjoy being outside in community.
By volunteering, you help strengthen both the land and the human connections that sustain it.
Please also print and sign the Release for City Volunteer Program
Please let us know if you plan to join and roughly when. You can also join our WhatsApp group to receive updates.
Warriors party
Join the monthly joint workparty with the Weed Warriors from Friends of Five Creeks. Meet at the end of Regency Court (GPS 1590 Regency Court, El Cerrito)
We will tackle a dense patch of broom that was previously cut and is now trying to grow back. To make it more fun, we are thinking of working together in a line moving uphill, almost like a coordinated Roman army against the broom invasion. For those who prefer working more independently, there will also be nearby broom patches to tackle on your own.
No prior experience is needed — tools and guidance are provided. Wear long sleeves and long pants, along with sturdy shoes. We will provide tools. If possible, please bring your own gloves.
All are welcome. Birders, plant enthusiasts, kids and curious neighbors are invited to join. You can come to work, to learn, or simply to enjoy being outside in community.
By volunteering, you help strengthen both the land and the human connections that sustain it.
Please also print and sign the Release for City Volunteer Program
Brew Workshop
Friday – 6pm–7pm: Brew Workshop + Optional Potluck After
Private home (message us for the address)
One of our side mottos is: “Let’s take care of our biomes and microbiomes.”
That is why we always end our work parties with a home made kombucha toast. Now the secret of its making is about to be revealed…
Come learn the brewing process, help prepare next week’s batch, and leave with a free SCOBY starter culture. Just bring a container. Everyone is welcome, and you are invited to stay afterward for a relaxed potluck and good company.
Week Party
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 – 4pm–7pm: Work Party
End of King Drive (GPS: 1159 King Drive, El Cerrito)
We’ll return to the end of King Drive and continue experimenting with our more flexible format: come and leave whenever you like, and stay as long as you want to better fit everyone’s schedule.
Please let us know if you plan to join and roughly when. You can also join our WhatsApp group to receive updates.
Activities will include:
Removing broom and dragging it near the trail for City pickup
Light hand-weeding of thistles in a meadow with strong restoration potential
Exploring habitat beneath the eucalyptus grove nearby while removing broom
No poison oak—just epic views and bonus sunset magic.
Yes, eucalyptus litter tends to acidify the soil, but that does not mean nothing grows there. Let’s document the native plants already present in this habitat. This information could become very useful for future restoration planning.
All are welcome. Birders, plant enthusiasts, kids and curious neighbors are invited to join. You can come to work, to learn, or simply to enjoy being outside in community.
By volunteering, you help strengthen both the land and the human connections that sustain it.
Please also print and sign the Release for City Volunteer Program
Environmental Quality Committee (EQC)
Tuesday – 7pm: Environmental Quality Committee (EQC)
City Hall – 10890 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito
Friends of the Hillside will be presenting the work we have been doing so far. A great opportunity to get an eagle-eye view of the meticulous stewardship work we carry out, work party after work party. Link to our presentation
Attending the EQC is also a great way to better understand local politics and community decision-making. Some of you may even consider getting involved—several city committees are currently recruiting new members, including the EQC and the Urban Forest Committee.
Community Wildfire Resilience Workshop
The cities of El Cerrito the Albany were awarded a grant from the State Coastal Conservancy to implement wildfire resilience demonstration projects to reduce wildfire hazards, steward natural areas, and reuse wood. The City of El Cerrito plans to use the $510,000 to remove hazardous eucalyptus and invasives trees in the Hillside Natural Area (Quarry Hill) followed by habitat restoration. As part of the grant, the cities are collaborating to host two milling demonstrations and two community workdays.
The public from both cities are invited to all 4 events and the first session “Talk, Walk, and Volunteering” will be held on Saturday, April 11th from 10 a.m. to 12:30 pm at the Albany Hill Taft Street turnaround. Participants will learn about fire resilient habitats and have the opportunity to do some hands-on work. All ages are welcome. Question can be addressed to Stephen Prée in the City’s Operations + Environmental Services Division at spree@ci.el-cerrito.ca or (510) 559-7685.
Goals
• Learn about the native and invasive plants in the grasslands on the crest of Albany Hill and how they affect fire.
• Learn how Albany is mitigating fire hazards on Albany Hill and plans for managing Eucalyptus and for habitat restoration.
• Pull some invasive plants!
For Friends of the Hillside, this is a valuable opportunity to learn from Albany’s dedicated steward, Margot Cunningham, and to deepen our understanding of our neighboring landscape. More info
Week Party
Meet up: End of King Drive (GPS: 1159 King Drive, El Cerrito)
We’ll return to the end of King Drive and try a new, more flexible format: come and leave whenever you like, and stay as long as you want to better fit everyone’s schedule. Please let us know if you plan to join and roughly when. You can also join our whatsapp group to get updates.
Activities will include removing broom or light hand weeding in a meadow with great restoration potential.
This work party begins with a short walk to the site. Along the way, we often identify plants, notice wildlife, and observe how the landscape is responding to past efforts. No prior experience is needed — tools and guidance are provided. Wear long sleeves and long pants, along with sturdy shoes. We will provide tools. If possible, please bring your own gloves.
All are welcome. Birders, plant enthusiasts, kids and curious neighbors are invited to join. You can come to work, to learn, or simply to enjoy being outside in community.
By volunteering, you help strengthen both the land and the human connections that sustain it.
Please also print and sign the Release for City Volunteer Program
Hillside Festival
No workparty this weekend due to the Hillside Festival:
We highly recommend these events:
Saturday
2:00–3:30 pm – Beginner/General Plant Walk
Led by Janet Gawthrop of the California Native Plant Society. Moderate walk focused on native plant restoration, with hopes of spotting Oakland star tulips in bloom.
Location: Madera Circle Trailhead
4:00–6:00 pm – Fire Resilience, Forest Conservation, and the Future of the Hillside
Learn about the new Hillside Management Plan and ongoing efforts to reduce wildfire risk while preserving native forest.
Speaker: Stephen Prée (City Arborist / Urban Forest Committee liaison)
Location: King Court
Sunday
4:30–6:00 pm – Building Healthier Landscapes
Join Audrey Liese (Friends of the Hillside) to explore how native plants support ecological resilience, pollinators, and carbon storage. Includes a visit to restoration sites, with a focus on purple needlegrass.
Location: Madera Circle Trailhead
Guerilla Work Party
South entrance of Regency (GPS: 1531 Regency Court, El Cerrito)
“Guerrilla” workparty (expect lots of poison oak)
While updating the native plant list in the HNA, we discovered a beautiful plant community near Hidden Valley (parallel to Kent Drive): sword ferns, goldback fern, gooseberries, oceanspray, monkeyflowers, yerba buena, beeplant, coffeeberry, American yellowrocket, woodland strawberries, creeping snowberry, blue elderberry, hedgenettle, pink honeysuckle… and, of course, plenty of poison oak.
Unfortunately, there is also a large patch of crofton weed starting to spread. To prevent further invasion, we need to act now. We’re looking for brave weed warriors willing to take it on. Happy to share tips to avoid getting a rash after.
Below is a picture of Ageratina adenophora (synonym Eupatorium adenophorum), commonly known as Crofton weed or Mexican Devil. It is a fast-spreading perennial herb native to Central America. It has become a highly invasive species in many parts of the world, including California, where it thrives in disturbed areas, roadsides, and open hillsides. The plant produces clusters of small, fluffy white flowers and spreads both by seeds and vegetative growth, allowing it to form dense stands that outcompete native vegetation.
Crofton weed is of particular concern in restoration areas because it reduces biodiversity, alters soil conditions, and can interfere with natural plant succession. Effective management typically involves early detection, repeated removal before seed set, and long-term monitoring to prevent reestablishment.
Weekly Work Party
Meet up: End of King Drive (GPS: 1159 King Drive, El Cerrito)
We’ll return to the end of King Drive and try a new, more flexible format: come and leave whenever you like, and stay as long as you want to better fit everyone’s schedule. Please let us know if you plan to join and roughly when. You can also join our whatsapp group to get updates.
Activities will include removing broom or light hand weeding in a meadow with great restoration potential.
This work party begins with a short walk to the site. Along the way, we often identify plants, notice wildlife, and observe how the landscape is responding to past efforts. No prior experience is needed — tools and guidance are provided. Wear long sleeves and long pants, along with sturdy shoes. We will provide tools. If possible, please bring your own gloves.
All are welcome. Birders, plant enthusiasts, kids and curious neighbors are invited to join. You can come to work, to learn, or simply to enjoy being outside in community.
By volunteering, you help strengthen both the land and the human connections that sustain it.
Please also print and sign the Release for City Volunteer Program
Below, picture of Dot-seeded plantain (Plantago erecta), a small, native annual wildflower commonly found in California grasslands. It starts as a low rosette and sends up slender flowering spikes in spring, with tiny greenish flowers that later form distinctive dotted seeds—giving the plant its name. Though modest in appearance, it plays an important ecological role: it is a key host plant for the endangered Bay checkerspot butterfly. Its presence is often a sign of relatively intact native grassland habitat, making it a valuable species in restoration areas like the Hillside.
Earth Day
Motorcycle Hill Broom & Invasive Plant Removal (Snowden Ave Entrance to Motorcycle Hill See Map)
Help restore native plant communities in this beautiful, lesser-known site.
Join us in removing invasive broom using weed wrenches and making space for native species to thrive.
Stephen Pree, the city arborist will lead the efforts with the help of some of our regular volunteers.
Weekly Work Party
Meet at the end of King Court (GPS: 1203 King court, El Cerrito)
We aim to finish clearing the broom from the patch we’ve been working on over the past two sessions.
We will also do some hand weeding around the native plants flagged last week to protect them from mowing—narrowleaf mule’s ears, gum plants, lupines, and others. No poison oak in this area.
Depending on time and volunteer turnout, we may wrap up with some hand mowing at the Golden Triangle—one of the most diverse and dense native grassland areas in the HNA.
P.S. If possible, please let us know in advance if you plan to join—even last minute.Don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions.
Come prepared with sturdy shoes, long socks over pants (for tick protection), long sleeves, a hat, sunscreen, and a water bottle.
Please also print and sign the Release for City Volunteer Program
Below is a photo of narrowleaf mule’s ears that have not flowered yet. At this stage, they can easily be mistaken from a distance for plantain or soaproot.
Narrowleaf mule’s ears are slow-growing, foundational perennials that take several years to establish. They are relatively resilient and would not be significantly harmed by mowing.
Weed Warriors
Tuesday (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
End of Regency Court (GPS: 1590 Regency, El Cerrito)
Armed with our weed wrenches, we’ll tackle a patch of broom together—moving up the hill as a tight, coordinated line. It should be a fun and satisfying effort.
There are also smaller broom plants to remove beneath the oaks.
Weekly Work Party
Saturday (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Meet-up: Entrance of Regency Court (GPS: 1531 Regency Court, El Cerrito)
Weed Walk
We’ll follow deer trails through the woodland and remove young broom (no weed wrenches usually needed).
Be prepared for poison oak—and a quick refresher on ferns.
P.S. If possible, please let us know in advance if you plan to join—even last minute.Don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions.
Come prepared with sturdy shoes, long socks over pants (for tick protection), long sleeves, a hat, sunscreen, and a water bottle.
Please also print and sign the Release for City Volunteer Program
Below is a list of the ferns identified in the HNA.
Weekly Work Party
Wednesday (5:00 – 7:00 PM)
Meet-up: Entrance of Regency Court (GPS: 1531 Regency Court, El Cerrito)
No poison oak
We’ll take a 10-minute walk to the upper middle meadow.
Focus: Vetch and other invasive plants currently overtaking miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor) and reducing its presence compared to previous years.
