Early Spring Wildflower Hike at Gunning/Fickardt Farm Preserve on Big Darby

Join us for an early spring hike on AOA’s beautiful Gunning/ Fickardt Farm Preserve, one of AOA’s foremost Big Darby Creek conservation sites.  This site contains over 4,300 linear feet of riparian corridor, 180 acres of native prairie and 100 acres of upland and bottomland forests.

We will hike around the property exploring the wildflower covered slopes, wetlands, prairies, Big Darby Creek riparian areas and open upland forests that comprise this preserve.  The 276-acre Fickardt Farm was purchased by AOA with funding from ODOT for the conservation of lands suitable to provide home habitat for endangered species of bats, particularly Indiana bats.

Big Darby Creek is designated a state and national scenic river.  It is widely recognized for the diversity of aquatic species that make a home in the river.  Gunning/Fickardt Farm Preserve is one of 12 preserves totaling nearly 1,400-acres AOA has recently conserved along the Big Darby.  Conservation of the Preserve and other nearby sites is part of AOA’s efforts to protect water quality and the home for many rare aquatic species in this exceptional Ohio resource.

Afterwards, feel free to wander the preserve on your own.  Participants are invited to stay and roam the site with AOA volunteers to help remove invasives and/or pick up trash. Feel free to join us with site stewardship or just enjoy the wildflowers, hiking, or being outside in a beautiful natural area.  Either way it is a great way to spend some time.

The Gunning/Fickardt Farm Preserve Wildflower Hike and other AOA events are free and open to the public.  This activity will be held rain or shine – so please come prepared and dress appropriately for the weather and hiking on slopes.  Most of the site can be navigated on relatively flat ground with limited exposure to the hillsides.

Note Afternoon Start Time:  Meet at 1:00 p.m.  The hike will last approximately two hours but stay as long as you like.

What to Bring:  Snacks and/or drinks of your choice.  Feel free to bring a lunch and enjoy the peace and serenity of the deep forest environs.  Insect repellant of choice may be desirable.

Location:  The Preserve is located on the east side of London Road, on the west bank of Big Darby Creek, a few miles south of Darbyville.  Look for AOA signs.  Go through the gate and drive straight back along the drive to the parking area beyond the upland prairie areas.

Please support AOA by renewing your membership and/or making a donation.

Google Map Link: https://www.google.com/maps/place/20150+London+Rd,+Circleville,+OH+43113/@39.6451242,-83.0511117,1191m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x88477ae5684f8047:0xc59c79e2e04477b0!8m2!3d39.6434823!4d-83.0516437