Behind the Barrier this July!

As Foxglove Covert LNR continues to be closed to the general public, we have been working hard to get pre-arranged groups in as much as possible. Staff and volunteers were joined by two work experience students from Richmond School for a week, and throughout July we have also been joined by multiple volunteering groups, including team members from Babcock, DIO and Balfour Beatty. Work included repairing and painting benches, installing foundations on which to place those benches and raking and bailling cut grass on the large waxcap field.

On Sunday, Keith Gittens led a guided walk around the reserve for dragonflies and damselflies. Although the weather condtitions weren't perfect, lots of species were spotted, including Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Emerald Damselflies, Common Darters, Emporer Dragonflies and Four-spot Chasers.

This Tuesday, Foxglove Covert's practical volunteers continued scything and bailling hay on the large waxcap field.

On Wednesday, the species team were joined by some additional moth specialists, including county recorder Charlie Fletcher. 11 moth traps (8 more than normal!) were put out across the reserve on Tuesday night, and 104 different species (some aggregates) were caught. A new moth species for Foxglove Covert was caught, Crassa unitella, as was a species that hasn't been recorded in Vice-County 65 (North-West Yorkshire) since the 19th century, Argyresthia pygmaeella. In addition, 100 Small Dotted Buff were caught, the third highest record in Yorkshire!

The time and efforts of everyone who has visited and volunteered at Foxglove Covert this July is much appreciated!