All in a Day’s Work

Saturday, May 2nd 2015

After the winter work is completed, we keep a check to see what happens next. An area near the head of the lake received attention, with trees pollarded, some were felled and Blackberry stems removed. This work was carried out to help the Bluebells that grow there. It has been a success as the Bluebells are now flowering.

Bluebells

Many flowers can now be seen on the reserve. Non-flowering plants are also growing. Horsetails are producing their fruiting bodies, which release spores. The ancestors of these plants produced our coal seams.

Fruiting body of horsetail

Ferns are unfurling their fronds.

unfurling fern frond

The bird ringers were out again last night checking the larger nest boxes. Although bitterly cold there was a beautiful sunset with accompanying sundog.

Sunset and sundog

Sun dogs (or sundogs) are mock suns or phantom suns. The scientific name is parhelia (singular parhelion), They are an atmospheric phenomenon that consists of a pair of bright spots on either side on the Sun, often co-occurring with a luminous ring known as a 22° halo. They are created by light interacting with ice crystals in the atmosphere. (We could not see the halo.)

A sundog

At the last stop, as two plump Tawny Owl chicks were ringed and carefully returned to their box, a Woodcock flew over, roding ( the Woodcock's display) and a Grasshopper Warbler was heard. By then the moon had risen.

The moon

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Foxglove Covert Local Nature Reserve is now OPEN

Monday 4th November 2024 |

The security gate and it's safety features are to be working, so we're reopening to the public.

However the intercom and remote gate opening system is currently non-functional. Entry and exit to the reserve will therefore take place via key fobs which will be issued to visitors when they sign in at the Cambrai Lines front entrance. These fobs can be used to open the gate when entering and exiting the reserve. They must be returned to the front entrance pass office upon exiting the reserve.

Please note access will be limited by the number of fobs available. You may therefore be turned away at the pass office if all fobs are in use at that time. Please only collect one fob per visiting group and ensure you enter and exit the reserve together.

Please check the FAQs for further information on entrance procedures.

https://foxglovecovert.org.uk/about/frequently-asked-questions/