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When the Sun Comes Out

Saturday, June 4th 2016

There has not been too much sun on the east of the country over the last few days, nor has it been very warm.  When the sun does come out the temperature rises and the invertebrates make the most of it.

Gorse is bright yellow all over the reserve and the flowers are providing food for snails and slugs.  They deserve it after clambering over the spikes!  The flowers are also suitable places for carnivores to lie in wait.  You can see the jaws on this Soldier Beetle.

Soldier Beetle

Spiders can hide in the flower petals and build their webs across the stems.  This is a crab spider.  Once disturbed it scuttled away, moving just like a crab would.

Crab spider species

Another spider hiding in waiting, with its web needing repair, was a Cucumber Spider.

Cucumber spider

Gorse Seed Weevils are busy and possibly, over a large number of years may reduce the amount of Gorse that grows.  I don't think that the volunteers will be out of work cutting it back in certain areas any time soon though!

Gorse Seed Weevil

Tree Bumble Bees are being seen in increasing numbers, in the area and on the reserve, and this one was caught visiting a vetch flower.

Tree Bumble Bee

Once the sun disappears so too do the invertebrates.  Cercopis vulnerata are just starting to hatch and can be found sheltering on leaves.  The black and red colouration is a warning to predators.

Cercopis vulnerata

Hidden amongst the vegetation on a Bogbean flower was a female Orange Tip butterfly.  Sometimes you can remove a piece of grass or a leaf, but trying to remove the stigma of the flower, close to water, was not an option!

Butterfly on Bogbean

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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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Minibeast Safari 2

Wednesday 12th August 2020 | Various time slots available

Come along and find out which minibeasts are living in some of the habitats at Foxglove. Book a minibeast 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 equipment 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 in advance (card payment by phone) of £5 per family bubble is required in order to secure your booking. 


Family Pond Dipping 3

Wednesday 19th August 2020 | 45 minute sessions 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 in advance (card payment by phone) of £5 per family bubble is required in order to secure your booking.  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 in advance (card payment by phone) of £5 per family bubble is required in order to secure your booking. 


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The Dragonflies of Strensall and Foxglove Covert
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This book has been published with the aim of enabling people visiting these, immensely important Flagship Pond Sites in North Yorkshire, to identify the dragonflies and damselflies they encounter - by reference to a simple text and photographs. Credits - Yorkshire Dragonfly Group & Freshwater Habitats Trust

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