SBPC Celebrates new Greenhouse and Nursery Space

South Bay Parkland Conservancy celebrated the new Greenhouse and Nursery space at Hopkins Wilderness Park this past Tuesday. Volunteers from the South Bay Parkland Conservancy completed the assembly of a new Greenhouse at Hopkins Wilderness Park in August. The greenhouse and additional nursery tables will be used for the propagation of plants and seedlings grown for the restoration of Hopkins Wilderness Park and other Redondo Beach restoration projects.

“Currently, access to California native plants grown from seeds and cuttings that are locally sourced in the South Bay is extremely limited,” said Jim Montgomery, newly-elected President of the South Bay Parkland Conservancy. “Adding this new California native plant greenhouse and nursery is a critical step in strengthening the South Bay’s capacity to restore climate-resilient, biodiverse ecosystems with plants based upon local genetics.”  Local native pollinators and wildlife have co-evolved with, and depend upon, local California native plant life to thrive.  And in some cases, animals, such as the federally endangered El Segundo Blue butterfly, require California native plant life, in this case Sea Cliff Buckwheat, to survive. 

Nursery operations will involve maintaining a dedicated greenhouse alongside existing potting facilities, collecting local wild seeds for sharing and cultivation, and supporting seed propagation and plant growth. Experienced staff will engage and train volunteers and community members in a wide range of seed collection, nursery management, and habitat restoration activities.

The facility will focus on propagating coastal sage scrub and chaparral species that are critical to the region’s ecological health. Community engagement is central to the effort: volunteers will assemble and distribute free packets of California native wildflower seeds to encourage residents to grow pollinator-friendly plants in their neighborhoods. These activities will be supported by educational resources such as seed libraries at multiple sites, educational materials, workshops, seminars, and guided nursery tours and nature walks.

The designated space at Hopkins Wilderness Park already included a greenhouse foundation and two potting benches installed through Scout projects. Another Scout project will include building fencing around the Greenhouse and nursery perimeter. An adjacent educational nature trail featuring local plant species is also planned, guiding visitors to the nursery area and enhancing public engagement. Funding for the Greenhouse was generously donated by Accelerate Resilience L.A. (ARLA), the Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation as well as the Riviera Garden Club, Leuzinger High School Environmental Career Academy students and an anonymous donor. The Redondo Beach Public Works team was also integral in every aspect of the effort.