Overview: Kingfisher Branch Nature/Fitness Trail Kingfisher Branch Nature Trail is an effort initiated by Martin County Soil Conservation and strongly supported by the community. Its mission is "to develop and provide a trail for all citizens and visitors of Martin County where nature can be enjoyed, education can take place, fitness can be improved, and heritage can be reviewed".
Phase I is a beautiful area with many natural flowers, ferns, trees, and other plants. Using the parking lot at the Roy F. Collier Community Center, one can go beside the tennis courts where they will find a trail into the woods behind the center. Crossing a bridge built by the Martin County ATC Carpentry Class, one travels along a small wet weather stream around the side of a mountain. About 500 feet into the trail, there is a small waterfall area which will be designated as a biology area. To this end, a naturalist has identified a number of plants in this area and identification signs will be added. The school system will be invited to bring classes for walks along the trail to learn about nature. Benches and seating have been added for creative writing and drawing. This area will include an area for attracting butterflies, a wetland area with cattails and frog habitat and a sandbox for identifying critter footprints. Phase I of this project stops at the waterfall area.
Phase II begins at the waterfall and goes into a more strenuous climb. The plan is to build a fitness trail with eight workout stops along the way as well as a few benches for those to rest. Railroad ties are being donated and will be used to build steps up the steepest portion of the trail.
Phase III is the last section and serves as a trailhead at a wide area at the top. The plan includes a heritage area with a log cabin, one-room school, outdoor classroom and chapel. The chapel has now been built through the donations and volunteers from a number of the churches in the area and the log cabin and one-room school house have been donated and will be moved to the site.
(Crestedris - left)
For more information on this initiative or to find out how you might become involved, contact: Nita Collier at nc@suddenlink.net
(Bloodroot - left)
Blue Phlox
Violet
Large Flowering Trillium
May Apples
Red Trillium
White Star Chickweed
WMTH Corporation, PO Box 51153, Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 781-6858
