CARP – Enjoy a bug-free walking tour of Huntley Creek and Bradley Falls Saturday, Dec. 14.

“You are invited to visit and walk along Huntley Creek and learn about the historic and environmental significance of the creek, and the surrounding area,” Save Huntley Creek organizer Lynn Grabe released in a statement Dec. 4.  “We will have both environmental and historic guides to lead our walk and teach about Carp’s first settlers as well the environmental importance of the area. Overall, expect a snowy, scenic hike through the forests and open meadows on trails along the creek.”

The event, organized by Save Huntley Creek, is free to participate in but organizers hope attendees will make a donation to a fund which is being used to fight the construction of a proposed concrete batching plant in the nearby Carp Road corridor (click here for West Carleton Online’s complete coverage of this issue).

The tour is expected to take between one and two hours and participants will learn about:

• Bradley Falls and Huntley Creek
• The Bradley Barn which survived the Great Fire of 1870
• The remains of the historic Bradley Mill Foundations along the creek
• A view of Captain Bradley’s homestead across the creek
• The historic apple orchards
• Learn about threatened and endangered animals and plants that call this creek their home.
• Special wildlife locations at the creek will also be pointed out such as the Bobolink nesting area and the Redfin spawning grounds.

The tour will begin at Swallow Creek Farm located at 718 Oakcreek Rd., Carp at 11 a.m.

Organizers ask you pre-register at artym6083@gmail.com by Dec. 10 as spaces are limited.

 “Voluntary donations to the Save Huntley Creek effort are greatly appreciated,” Grabe said.

The Save Huntley Creek initiative is a grassroots effort working to stop a concrete batching plant from being built next to Huntley Creek in Carp. The organization lists key concerns regarding the placement of a concrete plant next to Huntley Creek including groundwater contamination; pollution of natural springs; air pollution; the destruction of wildlife habitat in and around the creek; increased truck traffic; significant noise pollution by the operations of the plant and an overall degradation of quality of life to all of the residents in this ecologically and historically important area.

You can also support this effort by contributing directly to the Save Huntley Creek’s gofundme page.

“Contributions will go towards covering expenses incurred in challenging the city’s approval of the concrete plant,” Grabe said.