Blog Archive (3) Posts Made in May 2025
Willow Seeds Floating on the Wind
Monday, May 26th 2025
If you have visited Foxglove Covert in the last couple of weeks, you may have noticed lots of fluffy white seeds floating in the air and covering the ground.
These seeds are from the willow trees which are present at Foxglove Covert. In areas where there are lots of willow trees, there are so many seeds it looks like snow on the ground.
The willow trees are dioecious, which means an individual tree is either male or female. The male trees have catkins which produce pollen, while the female trees have catkins which, once pollinated, produce seeds.
The willow trees at Foxglove Covert support a variety of wildlife, including providing pollen for bees and other insects and a food source for the catarpillars of many moth species. In turn, these insects are a food source for birds, which is particularly important in sping when they have chicks to feed.
Working in the Sun
Wednesday, May 14th 2025
This Tuesday volunteers enjoyed a beautiful sunny day as they continued work on the dead hedge along the back of the wildlflower meadow.
Thankfully a light breeze ensured the work wasn't too warm while volunteers weaved in long branches of willow and knocked in more birch posts.
Around two-thirds of the fenceline is now complete.
Flowers at Foxglove Covert
Friday, May 2nd 2025
As the wildflowers begin to bloom at Foxglove Covert, here are some of the species to look out for this May.
Only found in one area of the reserve so far this year, the Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula) is the first orchid species to bloom on the reserve. This flower can grow up to 40cm tall and has leaves with dark purple splotches on them.
Another purple flower found on the reserve, Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) are more widespread than the orchids and are in full bloom in wooded and grassland areas aound Foxglove Covert.
The Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis), also known as Lady's Smock, can also be found across the reserve. Its flowers vary in colour from white to pink.
As you explore Foxglove Covert this spring, don't forget to take a moment to appreciate these beautiful wildflowers.
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