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Trail Guides
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Old Pine Farm Greenway
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5
 
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Rankin Avenue, Deptford, NJ
Phone: (856) 579-4441
www.bigtimbercreek.org/index.html
The Old Pine Farm Natural Lands Trust
From Timber Creek Park, turn Right on Chews Landing Road and then Left onto Old Black Horse Pike. After 1.0 miles, bear Left onto Route 168/ Black Horse Pike. At the second traffic light, turn Right onto West Church Street. After 0.5 miles, turn slight Left onto Good Intent Road. After 0.7 miles, turn Right onto Rankin Avenue. Proceed to the end of the road and park by the entrance for Old Pine Farm Greenway, marked by mosaic columns. DIRECTIONS FROM NEAREST HIGHWAY: From Route 55, take exit 58 for Deptford Center Road. At the fourth traffic light, turn Right onto Hurffville Road/Route 41. After 1.3 miles, turn Left onto Good Intent Road. After 0.3 miles, turn Left onto Rankin Avenue. Proceed to the end of the road and park in the lot at the entrance for Old Pine Farm Greenway, marked by mosaic columns. Map
Events are scheduled regularly by Old Pine Farm Natural Land Trust. A geocache site is on the premises.
Plant life is quite lovely at the site spring through fall. A more detailed list of wildflowers and other species can be found at www.bigtimbercreek.org.
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| Garter Snake | Tony Geiger |
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Named for the Pine family who farmed the land, this 32-acre site has more deciduous trees than pines, which is uncharacteristic of this area. Habitats include mixed- hardwood upland, maple swamp and grassland savanna. The greenway is surrounded on three sides by acres of freshwater tidal marsh with extensive beds of wild rice along the headwaters of Big Timber Creek. Many migrants and year round residents can be found in the varied terrain and the abundant water. A dense understory provides good shelter for songbirds and small mammals, as well as browse for deer.
A large snag by the creek is a reliable owl perch. Look for whitewash and pellets beneath it.
Wintering waterfowl include Black Duck, Tundra Swan, Green-winged Teal, and others. Great Blue Heron can occasionally be found stalking the wetlands. Snow provides a good opportunity for tracking turkey and mammals.
Many wildflowers bloom, including jack in the pulpit. Ferns begin to unfurl. Migrant warblers and waterfowl are passing through the site, and woodland birds such as American Goldfinch, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Chipping Sparrow have begun nesting.
Marsh rose, spatterdock and yarrow are among the many blooming wildflowers. Young fledgling birds and mammals such as cottontail rabbit, muskrat and opossum are easily seen. Watch for movements of garter snakes, box turtles and Fowler’s toads on the forest floor. A wide variety of fish can be caught in the stream, including perch, catfish, pickerel, bass, shad, bluegill and river herring.
Migrant sparrows and blackbirds are attracted by the seeding wild rice abundant in the marsh and creek. Greater Yellowlegs, Green Herons and Snowy Egrets are among waterbirds moving through. Maple and Sumac turn quite colorful.
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