Hebbville farmer, volunteers create hiking trail
Nancy Mccarthy of Newcombville is an avid hiker. That’s why she is so pleased to have a new hiking trail open to the public on a farm in her neck of the woods.
Glen Hebb, the owner of Indian Garden Farms, donated the use of land around the outer edge of his family’s 300-acre fruit and vegetable operation in Hebbville to make the trail possible.
Mccarthy, a member of the Lunenburg County Hikers, has hiked the 3.5-kilometre medium difficulty trail four times already. Once, she was on snowshoes.
“The trail is really nice if you like water and peaceful wildlife,” Mccarthy said.
“The last time I walked the trail I watched some beavers play in the water and saw some other wildlife around,” Mccarthy said.
“I would recommend the trail because it’s very peaceful. It’s got a little bit of everything I like in a trail. It’s close to town in a nice community,” she said.
“Get out and hike. It’s wonderful,” Mccarthy said.
“It’s a very relaxing and calming experience to walk through the woods and enjoy nature.
It relieves stress. It clears your mind.”
Lunenburg County Hikers is planning to hike the completed trail as a group.
“It’s wonderful that Glen let people build the trail through his property,” Mccarthy said.
Hebb said the idea was born when he and his friend, Jonathan Lewis of Bridgewater, noticed an increase in hikers using the farm roads on the property early in the pandemic.
“This was something they could do safely and social distance while there were not many options for recreation and exercise,” Hebb said.
Hebb and Lewis decided to cut a trail through some of the scenic areas of the property along a brook, a lake and the wooded areas around the rim of the farm. Hebb said construction began early in the new year.
“While we were constructing the trail, they were standing behind us, Hebb said. “We were working and they were walking around you. It was almost immediate.”
“It is probably some of the most beautiful scenery on our farm. It follows down starting at the covered bridge across from the Tasty Freeze, following Hebb Mill Brook quite
a ways,” Hebb said.
The construction included a bridge to an island in the middle of Hebb Mill Brook.
“People can go out there and they are surrounded by moving water,” he said. “It’s beautiful.”
“I think they are really enjoying it,” Hebb said of the trail users. “It makes you feel good inside for folks to enjoy these things and get a little exercise and to be in a little better frame of mind with the times.”
Hebb also calls the project “the people’s trail” because he has observed hikers cleaning up parts of the trail on their own. One hiker placed a park bench on the edge of the lake nestled beside the trail.
“They are taking pride in it,” Hebb said.
Hebb and Lewis view the project as a way to give back to their community.
“Without over thinking, it just seemed like a good thing to do for the community,” Hebb said.
“The reward you get is not monetary. It’s a good feeling in your heart.”
As well as providing use of the land, Hebb provided signage on the trail as well as building materials and use of some equipment.
Lewis organized volunteer work parties made up of some of his friends.
The crews used chainsaws to cut the trail through wooded areas and old wood roads so hikers could avoid roads used by farm equipment. Lewis paid for building materials and other expenses
from funds from the Jonathan David Wayne Lewis Foundation.
“It was nice for me to take some giving dollars and bring them back to the micro of right where I live and know I was doing something my immediate neighbors could benefit from and enjoy,” Lewis said.
“And it’s a blessing to run into them on the trail and have them say, ‘Jonathan, this is so wonderful.’"
Lewis said he hopes to add another two kilometres to the trail later in the year.
The new hiking trail is for year-round use by walkers and mountain bikes. Motor vehicles are not allowed on the trail. Hikers and bicyclists can use the trail at their own risk.