Keeping Your Eyes Open

Saturday, August 12th 2023

Walking around Foxglove, no matter what the season, it is important to keep your eyes open and look for things that look different or should not be there. Sometimes this means that a quiet approach to a 'thing' means that you are ready to photograph a piece of mud, of a dead leaf, or better still a dropping! A movement often gives away a creature and in this case it was a beautiful Common Toad.

It was not an adult, proably two or three years old. Its warty skin is clear to see as is its bronze/gold eye. The boardwalks are good places to hunt as many insects appreciate the warmth of the wood. Vegetation growing along both sides provide shelter, hiding places and yet more food. Common Toads hibernate and as they emerge from hibernation they head to their spawning ponds. Once this is finished they head onto land and live there during the summer and are not often found back in the water.

Something a little smaller was easily noticed, a bright red spot on green grass. It was a Seven-sopt Ladybird.

Thank you to Tim for these phtotgraphs.

Out on the moor the wind was slightly on the strong side causing insects to hang on tight to the vegetation. A small moth that we can catch in our traps was Pyrausta purpuralis and it was clinging tight to a dandelion type flower. This is a small moth which prefers grasslands. We often see it flying on the moor. The caterpillars feed on Water Mint.

Another insect flying across the moor and stopping on vegetation was this female Common Darter. August sees many of these darters flying almost anywhere on the reserve. Weather permitting they can be seen right through until October.

(0) Comments:

There are no comments for this blog post yet. Why not start the discussion? - use the form below:

Back to Top

Help Support Foxglove

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.

More Details

Upcoming Events

Access to the Reserve: OPEN with limited access

Friday 20th September 2024 |

We are glad to announce that Foxglove Covert is reopening to the general public on Monday 7th October 2024.

A partial fix of the Foxglove Covert access gate has ensured that the safety features (sensors, emergency stop buttons) are now functional. This will allow safe access through the gate.

Unfortunately, the intercom and remote opening system by which the Guardroom normally opens the gate for entry and exit to the reserve is still inoperable. We do not have a timeframe for when this will be repaired.

Entry and exit to the reserve will therefore take place via key fobs which will be issued in exchange for photo ID (driving licence/passport) 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 see below for organised events. Booking is essential, as attendees will be contacted with access arrangements ahead of the events.

If you are part of an organised group and would like to arrange a visit to the reserve, please contact reserve staff.

October Wildlife Wander

Thursday 10th October 2024 | 2pm-4pm

Join reserve staff for a guided walk around Foxglove Covert as the reserve begins to settle into autumn. Explore the reserve as tree leaves begin to change colour, migrating birds start to pass through, and fungi thrives throughout the reserve's grasslands and woodlands.

2pm-4pm.

Donation of £3 per person. Free for Friends of Foxglove. Booking essential.

Due to faults with the Foxglove Covert access gate, entry and exit will be coordinated and at set times. Booked attendees will be sent access arrangements via email prior to the event.

VIEW ALL EVENTS