Working Towards Spring
Sunday, December 3rd 2017
Yesterday's blog mentioned that the work along the Hazel bank must be completed before Christmas, so that young leaves are not damaged. Coppicing allows more light and air onto the area and this benefits the early spring flowers and their accompanying invertebrates. On this particular part of the Hazel bank, it is interesting to note that there is a patchwork of very small, different habitats, allowing for a range of vegetation.
Wood Anemones are never plentiful at Foxglove so it is always a great pleasure to see their flowers open in the sunshine.
Last year Early Purple Orchids thrived and increased their range.
Bluebells grew well and yesterday there were several dead, empty seed heads still surviving.
Geum or Water Aven shows its leaves right though the winter. Come spring the nodding heads provide food for many insects including bees.
Sometimes one stands out as just not the same. It is a mutation.
Yellow Pimpernel creeps along path edges and through the undergrowth showing its bright yellow flowers.
All of these flowers and many others will soon be showing their new growth, often hidden under a warm blanket of fallen leaves. As soon as the temperature rises in early spring so the rate of growth quickens. Leaves flourish followed by the flowers. As the canopy begins to shade the ground, seeds develop and disperse, ready for the following year.
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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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Pond Dipping 2
Wednesday 10th August 2022 | Various sessions throughout the day - starting on the hour
Come along and find out which minibeasts are living in some of the habitats at Foxglove. Book a minibeast session for your family bubble. 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.
All About The Bugs! 2
Wednesday 17th August 2022 | Various sessions throughout the day - starting on the hour
Come along and find out which minibeasts are living in some of the habitats at Foxglove. Book a minibeast session for your family bubble. 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.
Undergrowth Newsletter
Undergrowth Newsletter Winter 2020/21 Issue 54

Find out what has been going on at the reserve during the lockdown!
View All The Newsletters
Recent Blog Posts
- The Dream Team!
- Foxglove 30 BIOBLITZ
- New Species
- Summertime
- Short-eared Owls
- Celebrate 30 Years of Foxglove!
- Butterflies And Moths Treasure Trail
- Busy Wednesdays
- Wildlife and Warm Days
- Yet More Moths
- Mainly Moths and Butterflies
- Blustery Days
- Working On The Wetland
- Beautiful Barn Owls
- Beaver and Cub Scouts
- Holt’s Military Banking
- 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
Blog Archive
- Blog Posts from - 2022
- Blog Posts from - 2021
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- Blog Posts from - 2019
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