Town of Hempstead biologists collected native seed from the Hempstead Plains grassland in 2020, and were able to propagate and grow the seed in the Town’s newly renovated sustainable greenhouse. This initiative is in partnership with Friends of Hempstead Plains and Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation District. During the 2021 fall planting season, the Town of Hempstead planted 550 native plants in different areas where restoration was needed at the Hempstead Plains, and other Town facilities. In addition, these native plantings will eventually provide the Town and their project partners with a good source of native seed that can be collected for many years to come.
Conservation & Waterways staff also completed additional plantings in Oceanside and Lido. Below is a summary of the plantings, showing locations and quantity of plants. All plants were grown in the Department’s greenhouse in Point Lookout.
Hempstead Plains, Uniondale, NY:
425 native starter plants were donated and planted at the Hempstead Plains
Marine Nature Study Area (MNSA) Marsh Restoration Planting, Oceanside, NY:
133 native salt marsh grasses started from seed, originally collected from MSNA in the previous year
Lido Beach Nature Preserve, Lido Beach, NY
66 native grasses
Pollinator Garden @ Clean Energy Park, Point Lookout, NY:
25 native flowering plants
Learn more about our Building Community through Sustainable Living program.