They shuffle over the wet sand and coir netting with George Blomberg, one of the Port’s senior environmental managers, planting native salt grass and tufted hair grass to help restore an eroded habitat.

On a wagon ride from the Pittsfield train station, Melville scribbled the names of all the grasses he knew: redtop, ribbon grass, finger grass, orchard grass, hair grass.

Then, from between two great tussocks of hair grass came Fiver, his eyes blazing with a frantic urgency.

In the wetland sections, there are native meadow grasses such as evergreen fescues and tufted hair grass. 

Tickle grass and tufted hair grass, among others, tint the vistas with subtle hues.