HB Trees

Above, beautiful trailside boulders (like these Baja Crest red boulders near the Urban Forest) were brought in 2019 by Tree Society donors envisioning they would serve as exploratory perches and way finders. Below, salvia “Hot Lips” (sage) , Mexican Marigolds, plus lots more trees (like Jacarandas, Coastal Oaks, Floss Silks and Redbuds), rocks and stumps arrived in 2021 and 2022.

Wintertime in the Urban Forest. For a map of the trail winding around the Urban Forest, click here.

The east side of Huntington Lake, in 2021 and 2022. The hazardous tree roots have now been covered by a new boardwalk installed by the City. They were able to preserve the overhanging Eucalyptus trees where, each spring, Cormorant birds nest, so watch out!  However, according to many birders, getting hit by bird droppings is considered good luck.

Thanks to irrigation lines added last year by the City of Huntington Beach, 45 trees were acquired and planted by the HB Tree Society along the hilltop section of the Shipley to Shore Trail. Many of the trees were planted on behalf of forestation fans and as tribute trees by generous donors. Because the soil there is hard clay, holes had to be dug twice as deep to place small rocks that will allow the water to filter and tree roots to grow. The soil was amended with compost donated by Agromin in Chino, CA, and trucked in by Republic Services. Jacaranda, Coastal Oak and Floss-Silk trees were added in March 2021, along with flowering native plants and several boulders perfect for resting. Whew! It’s been a lot of work so far, but well worth the effort.

In an effort to ensure our limited park space remains available for its intended uses, and our precious open wild land areas are protected from environmental damage, the Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) reports that on March 10, 2021, the HBPD Homeless Task Force carried out a clearing operation in partnership with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Orange County Parks in Harriet Wieder Park and the portion of the trail managed by the Bolsa Chica Conservancy. Responding to increased wetland pollution, unlawful fires, litter, and other criminal activity such as drug use and possession of stolen property, the Huntington Beach Police Department’s Homeless Task Force made frequent trips into the park over the course of two weeks to provide resources and to advise those unlawfully dwelling in these sensitive areas of their unlawful activity. Additionally, HBPD homeless case managers, outreach workers from the Orange County Health Care Agency, and medical personnel from Cal-Optima made trips into the park to further assist in these efforts.

Some spectacular sunsets appear from this vantage point along the trail.

Trailside shots