Tidying Up After Storm Arwen
Friday, December 3rd 2021
The damage caused by the storm on Saturday is worse than first thought; in total over 50 trees have been lost and the clean up operation is a mammoth task. Most of the trees that were pushed over by the gale force winds are conifers due to their shallow root systems. They have mainly been Larch and Sitka Spruce.
To clear up, the brash is removed from the trunks (a process known as 'snedding'), the larger pieces of timber are then cut into sections that are light enough to be carried to a pile. This involves a lot of work dragging, lifting and carrying; a great green gym workout! As the woodland is inaccessible by vehicle the timber cannot be extracted easily.
Staff and volunteers are working their way around the reserve gradually opening up the footpaths again. If the large volume of debris was left on the forest floor it would become a serious fire hazard in the summer months so it is burned on small controlled bonfires. Although this isn't ideal it is better than having an uncontrolled forest fire in the future.
It has been a case of 'all hands to the deck' with staff and volunteers working extra hours and additional help from visiting groups. A special thank you to the team from the Personalised Learning Centre who assisted with some of the work in the plantation.
Finally, some good news: their group leader, Trish, has been bringing groups to the reserve for over 13 years and was thanked by the Reserve Managers who presented her with a QAVS (Queen's Award for Voluntary Service) badge.
Well done Trish and here's to the next 13!
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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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Butterflies and Moths Treasure Trail
Friday 22nd July 2022 | During Reserve Opening Times
Enjoy a walk around the red route (easy access trail) and find the clues to learn all about these wonderful insects.
Pick up a clue sheet from the Field Centre for only £1 and check your answers at the end.
No booking required as this is a selg guided activity! Please remember to bring a pencil from home.
The clues will be out for the duration of the school summer holidays (North Yorkshire dates).
Pond Dipping 1
Wednesday 27th July 2022 | Various sessions available starting on the hour
Come along and find out which animals are living in some of the Foxglove ponds. Book a pond dipping session for your family bubble of up to six people. There will be a socially distanced brief to set you off and then you can use the equipment for the remainder of the session. You will be requested to use hand gel on arrival and the net handles will be cleaned between sessions.
Please call the Reserve Managers on 07754 270980 to book your allocated slot. You are advised to arrive 15 minutes before your allocated time.
A donation of only £5 per group in advance will confirm your time slot.
Undergrowth Newsletter
Undergrowth Newsletter Winter 2020/21 Issue 54

Find out what has been going on at the reserve during the lockdown!
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Recent Blog Posts
- Trinity Academy Richmond
- Butterflies and Moths
- Foxglove 30th Anniversary Raffle
- Nature Roundup
- Moths
- The Beginning of Summer
- Royal Garden Party
- More Nature
- Tread Quietly, Tread Gently
- Plenty To See
- No Snow, No Hail
- Tawny Owls and Grey Herons
- More Flowers
- Nature
- Moving Slowly Through Spring
- Nesting Time
- Winter Spring
- Warm Days
- Biscoff Cheesecake, Brownies and Bakewell Tarts!
- A Busy Day for Some
- Volunteers at Work
- Around the Reserve
- A Ringing Day
- Flowers at Last!
- More Spring Photos
- Moths!
- A Special Visit
- Spring Has Sprung!
- Reducing, Reusing and Recycling!
- Almost Spring
- Thank you!
- Ringing Resumes!
- Arrival of Spring
- Strong Support
- Back To Work!
- We Are Open!
- Update
- Temporary Closure
- Large, Little and In Between
- The Weather
- A Wild Worky Day!
- Malik and Corrie
- Forest School Fun
- Winter Work
- Preventing The Spread of Bird Flu
- Thank You and Congratulations!
- Job Jobbed!
- Hazel, a Hedge and more High Vis!
- Moths
- Many Happy Returns!
- Winter Scenes at Foxglove
- Sheer Dedication!
- Back to Work
- Happy New Year!
- All Kinds of Weather
- Last Volunteer Day 2021
- Pillwort
- Volunteers at Work
- Winter Work Continues
- Edward the Elf Returns!
- Sunshine and Blue Skies
- More Clearing Up
- December Winter Worky Day
- Dangerous Trees
- Tidying Up After Storm Arwen
- Storm Damage
- Willow Weaving
- Considerate Contributions
- Storm Arwen
- Look Both Ways
- Never Work With Wildlife
- Traditional Woodland Skills
- Technicolour Nature!
- November Worky Day
- Woodland Work
- All About Fungi
- Look North
- Autumn Views at Foxglove
- Happy Halloween
- Bat Monitoring
- Forest Fun
- Hazel Coppice
- Wildlife Activity Day
- Winter Visitors
- Fungi Walk
- Happy Holidays!
- Bakewells, Banana Cake and Brushcutting!
- A Busy ‘Typical’ Day?
- Wet and Wild!
- Autumn Bird Ringing
- Changing Seasons
- Moths
- Extra Help
- Redwing
- Lively Livestock!
- Meadow Management
- Half Term Plans
- Autumn Worky Day
- QAVS Award on Display
- The Beginnings of Autumn
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