Fisher Farm Park

Description

Elevation: 580 ft.

Fisher Farm Park lies on the southern edge of Martinsville a few miles north of the North Carolina state line. Much of this park is wooded and provides a great place to explore nature. It contains an upper and lower area: the upper area has a picnic shelter with grills and restrooms; the lower area is larger with a picnic shelter, baseball fields, play structure, and a primitive trail. The trail starts behind the playground and leads down to Marrowbone Creek, which can be followed to its retaining dam above its confluence with the Smith River.

The tall deciduous forest along the banks of Redd’s Creek supports an excellent assortment of woodland species. Eastern bluebirds often greet visitors as they patrol the small grassy area near the entrance sign. As the road curves down hill towards the creek look for Carolina chickadee, tufted titmouse, Carolina wren and northern cardinal in the woods on either side of the road. Upon reaching the bottom, keep an eye and an ear out for woodpeckers such as red-bellied, downy and northern flicker. The woods along the river may support a skulking green heron or perhaps a yellow-billed cuckoo hunting caterpillars in the canopy.

Open areas around the baseball diamond prove to be worthy of inspection. Five-lined skink may be seen near the parking area. Spicebush and eastern tiger swallowtails can be seen resting out on the pitchers mound. On occasion the gray squirrels even break from cover and do a quick round of bases before scampering back up the nearest tree. Drive carefully along the route because an eastern box turtle may be found slowly crossing the road.

Directions

Physical Address: 475 Leisure Trail, Ridgeway, VA 24148 (Located off of Old Mill Road)

From Martinsville, head south on US-220 BUS/S. Memorial Blvd/Greensboro Rd, turn left onto SR-782/Old Sand Rd, turn left onto SR-642/Eggleston Falls Rd, turn right to stay on SR-642/Eggleston Falls Rd, turn right onto SR-640/Old Mill Rd, turn right onto Leisure Trail and follow it to one of the parking areas.