Pajaro Middle School got a major landscape overhaul Saturday during a four-hour community event, which included the planting of shade trees, native plants, edible gardens, a fruit tree orchard, and other environmental conservation features.
The so-called Celebration of Trees project was staged by Watsonville Wetlands Watch (WWW).
The event included outreach and education activities, and marked the completion of WWW’s greening plan for the campus.
Around 120 volunteers of all ages not only helped get the plants in the ground and create a new outdoor classroom and school garden, they also learned about tree care through presentations by local experts.
Free fruit trees were also provided for adoption by residents of Pajaro and Watsonville.
WWW development and communications director Brooke Sampson said the project increases green space and outdoor learning areas, creates shaded recreational and rest areas for students to stay cool on hot days, and equips the school with features to better withstand weather events caused by climate change.
The project features a windbreak from the surrounding agricultural fields, and upgraded to the school’s quad with new areas for stormwater to soak in.
WWW executive director Jonathan Pilch said 55 new shade trees and fruit trees were planted, including native coast live oaks, valley oaks and ornamental trees like gingko, crape myrtle, strawberry manzanita and olive trees.
Plantings included 800 new native and drought tolerant plants around the campus.
Pilch added that the project started in 2022 just before the flood that closed the school for more than a year.
“Many of the original trees planted survived the flood, and it was great to be back working together to plant a bigger and more impactful next phase of the project,” he said.
The project was funded by the Community Foundation of Monterey County, Monterey County Gives! donors, the USDA U.S. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program, and the PV Water Pajaro River Resilience Program, Community Foundation for Monterey County and CalFire. For information, visit watsonvillewetlandswatch.org and watsonvillecommunityforest.org.
