Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve

Fairview Farm is a 170-acre wildlife preserve that is home to the professional staff of URWA. The site is open to the public for passive recreation such as hiking and birding from dawn till dusk, seven days a week. A visit to Fairview Farm is a unique experience. There are no picnic tables, trash cans or playgrounds. However, there are five miles of trails through fields and woods, a small pond (we do allow fishing if you promise to throw back the little ones), a butterfly garden, a native species nursery and a compost toilet for your convenience (near the barns).

The driveway begins between two stone pillars at 2121 Larger Cross Road, Bedminster. The narrow one half-mile drive through meadow and woods takes you over a small stone bridge. The office is just ahead and an information kiosk is found along the circle in front of the building. The brick house on the property is a private home. The barn complex is the site of the Association’s annual Old Fashioned Country Fair and home to education programs. The Association estimates that the buildings were constructed sometime in the early 1800’s.

Originally a dairy farm, URWA has allowed the agricultural land to grow into habitat for native wildlife. The pond holds bass, sunfish, painted and snapping turtles, frogs and muskrat. Dragonflies are present through the summer months. There are fox and coyote dens on the hillside. There are signs of raccoon, possum, rabbits, deer and squirrels (gray, red and flying). The North American Butterfly Association identified 243 butterflies representing 21 species in one afternoon field trip August 2002 and has put the Bird & Butterfly Garden at Fairview Farm on their annual calendar. Raptors fly overhead and several species of migrant and nesting birds fill the forest, fields and gardens. Hummingbirds are a particular favorite visitor to the garden feeders from late April into early September.

In our rapidly changing world, this property is a treasure. Fairview Farm visitors leave feeling like they have been to a very special place. The Association works to find a balance between sharing this unique property with the public and protecting the wildlife from negative impact. To date, school groups, artists, birders and daily visitors have enjoyed a wonderful wildlife experience without disturbing the quiet beauty of the preserve. URWA is committed to stewarding Fairview Farm, teaching the public through educational projects like the garden, protecting the wildlife and making quality outdoor experiences available to all.

What to do or learn on Fairview Farm

1. Directions to Fariview Farm
2. Trail Map
3. Children's Nature Trail
4. Barn Restoration Project
5. Composting Toilet Project
6. American Kestrel Nestbox Project
7. USGS Rain Gage
8. Bird and Butterfly Garden
9. Native Wildflower Meadow
10. Native Warm-Season Grass Meadow

White Trail (1 mile)

This trail encircles the pond where you can see a variety of wildlife including green heron, snapping turtle, dragonflies, American toad and beaver. This trail loops through a scrub-shrub area and a meadow with unique wildflowers and a trail of blue bird, kestrel and purple martin nest boxes.

Yellow Trail (1.6 miles)

This trail leads through a forested section that includes an area where red pines were planted during the 1940’s as an erosion control project. Under the guidance of a Forest Stewardship Plan, the decaying trees are being removed in phases, followed by the planting of seedlings. In addition, invasive plant removal projects are underway to aid in the restoration of a hardwood forest.

Green Trail (1.1 miles)

This trail encircles two of the preserve’s warm-season grass meadows. The northern-most parcel contains a kestrel and several blue bird boxes and at the top of the hill, 2 benches are placed to offer a rest to hikers and a wonderful view of the countryside. A USGS weather station is located in the meadow seen from the back of the barns.

Red Trail (1.3 miles)

This trail encircles two warm-season grass meadows. All of the meadows on Fairview Farm are managed on a delayed mowing schedule to provide food, cover and nesting sites for wildlife. There are 3 stream crossings on this trail that lead to a forested ridge of mature mixed oaks. Please use caution at the stream crossing and along the steep ridge.

Purple Trail - Children's Nature Trail (0.9 miles)

This trail was designed for an Eagle Scout service project. It is designed for children ages 4-8 to utilize their senses in exploring the outdoors. There are backpacks stored in the barn classroom with trail activities such as animal tracking and tree bark rubbing, as well as tools such as binoculars and a magnifying glass.

Children's Nature Trail
Boy Scout Creates Children's Nature Trail at Fairview Farm
Thanks to Eagle Scout candidate Neil Stone of Bridgewater (seen in the photo with URWA Executive Director Cindy Ehrenclou), there is a new interactive nature trail for children between the ages of 4 and 8 at Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve. Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve is a 170 acre former dairy farm that is home to URWA. Located at 2121 Larger Cross Road in Bedminster, it is open from dawn until dusk every day, and there is no charge to visit. Neil created a 1/2 mile long trail, complete with seven activity stations, and stocked ten backpacks with binoculars, magnifying glasses, paper and even a laminated trail guide. Families who visit Fairview Farm can sign out a backpack and explore the trail to learn about animal tracks, the sounds of nature, the creatures that live under rocks and in the dirt, and more!

Neil, who is a member of Troop 603, designed the trail for his Eagle Scout project. He describes the project as one that will “help children become more aware of nature around them. With this project, children will be able to connect with nature and appreciate the wildlife at Fairview Farm.” URWA applauds Neil for his spirit of volunteerism and this outstanding contribution to its environmental education program!

USGS Rain Gage

Visitors have often wondered about this odd looking contraption perched in the middle of an unspecified field on Fairview Farm. This is actually the “Pottersville USGS (United States Geological Survey) rain gage station that is managed by the West Trenton, NJ Water Science Center. We have linked you to their website to give you real-time water data for New Jersey, specifically the page that reports precipitation on Fairview Farm in Bedminster.

Click here to view rain gage data

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