Getting Stuck In!

Tuesday, July 21st 2020

Volunteers carry out all kinds of different tasks at the reserve and this week has been a busy one so far (and it's only Tuesday)! Firstly, the reeds in front of the lake hide were obscurring the view and needed to be cut back. This is always a much bigger job than it looks with a lot of cut Phragmites to rake and remove.

Some of the stems were too far in the water to be reached from the bank so waders were required. The view has opened up well and visitors will now get a much better chance of seeing the Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Moorhens and Kingfishers that frequent this habitat.

The duck trap that had been overgrown was revealed once again and needed to be weeded out. There is only one way to do this and that is to climb inside and pull the plants out by hand! Hopefully, the bird ringers will now be able to catch and ring some of the Moorhens and young Mallards to learn more about their survival and longevity.

At this time of year there is always plenty of maintenance work to be done too and the decking at the front of the Field Centre was in need of some TLC after the winter. It was pressure washed, swept and prepared before being painted with woodstain. Today was a 'good drying day' at last!

During the summer months it has been said that at Foxglove you can strim for 9 days a week and still not finish! With 70 net rides and several kilometres of trails to keep on top of it is a never ending job and a strenous one in the hot sun.

Visitors may also have noticed that the carpark by the Information Shelter has had a makeover over the last fortnight as well. The old barriers were rotten and had started to fall apart. They were removed and the timber was sorted into what can and can't be used again elsewhere.

The uprights were found to be in better condition than at first thought and were re-used with new beams on the top.

After a lick of paint, the new barriers were looking rather swish!

A reminder that carparking at the reserve is free to Friends of Foxglove (membership is from as little as £12) and volunteers and for all visitors costs only:

£2 for up to 2 hours

£3 for up to 4 hours

£4 for a full day

All of the money received goes directly towards the running of the reserve (It costs over £120,000 per annum to keep the reserve going). If you don't carry cash at the moment, don't worry, you can pay by card in the Field Centre.

Whether you are a volunteer, Friend or visitor, your support in whatever way is extremely valued and makes a direct and positive difference to the LNR and its wildlife.

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Friends of Foxglove

The Friends of Foxglove Covert is for those individuals, families and organisations who would like to support the reserve through an annual membership subscription. Friends receive a regular newsletter and invitations to attend our various activities and social events.

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Upcoming Events

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/