Winchester Green Circle

Abram’s Creek Wetlands Preserve

Trail Description

Although the off-street section of the trail through the wetlands was not part of the original conceptual plan, this section is the first mile of the Green Circle trail.  In 2003 the city accepted donation of three contiguous parcels totaling 24.52 acres from the developers of Meadow Branch and Morlyn Hills subdivisions.  The developers also constructed a walking-bicycling path in the uplands above Power Line Marsh and across the southern side of Meadow Branch Marsh.  An elevated walkway was constructed to lessen the impact on a particularly sensitive section of the wetlands, and Trex Inc. provided decking.  In addition, Melco Inc. (developers of the Abrams Crossing Shopping Center) built a pathway along the southern side of Jubal Early Drive extending from Meadow Branch Marsh to Harvest Drive.  All three segments of this pathway were proffered as part of the developers’ respective site plans.

This section of the trail is one mile long.  The Abrams Creek Wetlands Preserve (ACWP) is a permanently protected 25-acre wetland and natural area.  Although bisected by railroad tracks and surrounded by homes and other development, the wetlands support a remarkable diversity of plant and animal life that has attracted considerable attention from biologists.