Forestry Club students reforest Tightwad Hill
March 20, 2017
Taking advantage of a recent break in the rain, members of the UC Berkeley Forestry Club joined staff from UC’s grounds department and the campus landscape architect to plant new trees on Tightwad Hill.
The slope, rising above the east edge of California Memorial Stadium, is named for the football fans who hike up for a free view of Cal football games. Illness and old age have thinned out the trees on the hill. As they do for the entire campus landscape, the professionals who manage the campus grounds have been planning to renew the area with new trees that will fill in as they grow.
On Feb. 28, 21 volunteers from the Forestry Club met Devin Woolridge, campus grounds manager, who came equipped with seedlings, tools and gloves. After introductions by landscape architect Dave Johnson and fire mitigation expert Carol Rice, the group spent planted about 60 small pines and native oaks.
Woolridge was delighted with the results of the afternoon’s work, saying, “I’m thrilled to collaborate with the Forestry Club and look forward to doing it for many more planting seasons!”
The Forestry Club students were equally pleased; club president Julia Murphy said, “You couldn’t ask for a better study break than to get your hands dirty while planting trees in one of the most beautiful spots on campus! The Forestry Club has a legacy of tree-planting around campus, and we’re proud to add to that tradition by beginning this restoration project on Tightwad Hill.”
The results of their efforts should provide shade to thrifty Cal football fans for years to come.