Branxholm trail link delayed

• Photo by @carmenray

By Taylor Clyne
December 04, 2019

The new trail link connecting Derby to the township of Branxholm has been significantly set back following a technical hold up with obtaining a Forest Practices Plan to harvest the Branxholm Community Plantation.
The eight kilometres of beginner walking, and riding trails were due to open early November and is largely completed.
Mayor Greg Howard said the hold-up was due to Crown Lands having not signed their end of the Forest Practices Plan until late last week.
“The ownership of the land is split between Sustainable Timbers and Crown Lands. Unfortunately Crown Lands is holding the process up.
“The final section between the Dawn of Hope Road and Branxholm Recreation Ground cannot be finished by World Trail until the coupe has been harvested,” he said.
The project had been sitting in limbo for weeks with ARTEC machinery on standby ready to commence the harvesting on the seven-hectare space.
“ARTEC were basically waiting on the certification of the Forest Practices Plan, now that has finally been obtained, I expect gear will move in this week,” Mayor Howard said.
“This is exceedingly disappointing as we were hoping to have the trail open for the influx of riders and families over the Christmas period.”
Despite the delay, work on logging the Branxholm Community Plantation is expected to be completed within two to three weeks.
World Trail crews will then move back in to finish the final section after Christmas.