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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