Enjoy the changing seasons on the Nature Trail at Bradner’s Run

Last Updated on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 01:34 pm Written by Staff Reports Sunday, September 09, 2012 09:47 am

Enjoy the changing seasons on the Nature Trail at Bradner’s Run

LOWER TOWNSHIP – Historic Cold Spring Village invites visitors to step off the beaten path and enjoy the natural habitat of Cape May County with a walk through the Nature Trail at Bradner’s Run.

Bradner’s Run is a freshwater stream that runs along the southern edge of Historic Cold Spring Village, travels under the Garden State Parkway and then meets the salt marsh of the Intracoastal Waterway. It is named for John Bradner, first minister of the Cold Spring Presbyterian Church, who owned the land in the early eighteenth century.

The Nature Trail, which is open to the public for free self-guided tours, extends parallel to Bradner’s Run approximately one quarter of a mile, beginning at the edge of the Village’s Seashore Road (Route 626) parking lot and ending near the Rt. 9 entrance. On a walk through the Nature Trail, visitors can take in the sights and smells of the outdoors, like the lemony scent of the Sweet Bay Magnolia tree. The area surrounding Bradner’s Run is home to a variety of native plants. The section of the “run” that is closest to the Village meanders through a hardwood swamp forest of trees such as Sweet Gum, Willow Oak, Tulip Poplar, Southern Red Oak, Pitch Pine and Polonia. Wildlife is also in abundance and birds are ever-present.

The Village partnered with a local chapter of the Boy Scouts to clean-up and revitalize the trail. There are 15 stations along the trail, each pointing out areas of interest that correspond to a printed guide, available for free at the Village admission gates.

“The Nature Trail at Bradner’s Run is a great way for residents and visitors to connect with the natural habitat of the region,” said Anne Salvatore, HCSV executive director. “And it provides us with another way to educate our guests about Cape May County, past and present.”

Historic Cold Spring Village is a non-profit, open air living history museum that portrays the daily life of a rural South Jersey community of the Early American era. Its mission includes the preservation of 26 historic Cape May County buildings, history education and promoting heritage tourism.

Admission during the season is $10 for adults and $8 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 are admitted free.

The Village is located at 720 on Rt. 9, three miles north of Cape May and a mile and a half west of the southern end of the Garden State Parkway.

For more information, call 898-2300, ext. 10 or visit www.hcsv.org.