Dead Hedging

Thursday, March 7th 2024

This week volunteers have been hard at work creating a new dead hedge to act as a screen along Spigot Mere. This will help reduce disturbance to nesting birds that can be caused when pedestrians pass by.

Lots of different tasks went into making the hedge, including moving material for the hedge, putting points on the hedge posts to get them in the ground easier, installing the posts, and filling the hedge.

There was even time at the end of the day for a spot of birdwatching!

Dead hedges can be used to create natural-looking boundaries while also providing a wonderful habitat for insects. As time goes by this hedge will rot down and gorse will grow around it. Eventually a screen will be formed by the gorse, but until then, this hedge will do the job!

Ground nesting birds like Lapwing and Ringed Plover have been spotted around the pond in previous years, so keep a look out in the coming months! Spigot Mere can still be viewed from a hide on the edge of the pond, which is accessible by foot and wheelchair.

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Beautiful Bird Boxes!

Monday, February 19th 2024

Yesterday, in celebration of National Nest Box Week, Foxglove Covert hosted the Holmedale Community Nature Project's bird box building day.

These bird boxes will provide nesting places for a variety of bird species. Some boxes were made with small circular openings, which will be used by species such as Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit and Marsh Tits. Other boxes were made with larger rectangular openings, which are preferred by robins and wrens.

Putting up nest boxes is a useful way to provide safe nesting boxes for garden birds. Nest boxes are important because as gardens, parks and woodland become tidier and more carefully managed, there are fewer natural holes (such as those in standing dead trees) that birds can nest in. Similarly, modern buildings have few holes and overhangs where birds can make their nests. You can provide birds with a safe nesting place by putting up a box at least one meter above ground, angled slightly downwards (to prevent rain pouring into the entrance), and not too close to bird feeders and other nest boxes of the same type.

If you have nest boxes you still need to build, put up, or clean out, be sure to do so soon! Some bird species are already starting to prospect nesting sites and set up their territories for the breeding season.

Special thanks to Lizzie for organising this event and Brian for preparing all the materials and teaching everyone how to build thier nest boxes!

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Completed Coppice

Thursday, February 15th 2024

This Tuesday the willow coppicing efforts of winter 2023/24 were completed!

Here at Foxglove Covert there are ten coppice 'coups' which are coppiced on a rotation. This year it was the turn of coup four to be coppiced.

What was a densely wooded area is now open to sunlight, which will allow the coppiced willow to re-grow and an understory to develop.

 

 

In a years time, this area will already be full of grasses, rushes, saplings, and young willow re-growth, just like last year's coppiced coup is now:

 

 

Many thanks to all who helped with the coppicing this year.

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Unconventional Scything

Friday, February 9th 2024

Perhaps surprisingly, scythes can be used throughout the year to cut a variety of plants, not just wildflower meadows in Summer!

This week Carl and El took advantage of a rare sunny afternoon to remove encroaching saplings along the scrapes. Young saplings and tangles of brambles have been growing steadily along the edges of the scrapes, and some removal was necessary to stop them taking over. After volunteer Peter removed some of the older growth with a bow saw, in came the scythes!

Although not a usual technique for scything, upwards slicing motions with the scythe can cut through thin samplings and brambles easily. Removing this scrub will ensure the water in the scrapes stay open and aren't taken over by vegetation.

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Garden Birds

Sunday, January 28th 2024

Among the many habitats and hides at Foxglove Covert, one of the best places to watch birds is right in the Field Centre, looking out onto the feeders in the garden. This was exactly where staff, volunteers and visitors completed the RSPB's Big Garden Bird Watch today.

There were lots of birds flitting in and out of the garden, so fast they were tricky to count. Thanks to those who helped spot all the different birds enjoying food from the feeders and hiding in the trees.

Some highlights from the count included 5 bullfinches, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Bramblings, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Nuthatch and a flock of 13 Lesser Redpoll.

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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.

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Access to Foxglove Covert Nature Reserve

Monday 18th March 2024 |

Foxglove Covert LNR is currently open with limited access. The number of visitors able to accesss the reserve at any one time will be limited.

Please be aware that this means you may be turned away or asked to wait when you arrive at the front entrance to Cambrai Lines

The usual signing in procedure remains in place; you will need to sign in at the front barrier and provide photographic ID.

 

We are hopeful that access will improve in the near future, but in the meantime, thank you to everyone for the continued patience and support.



Spring Crafts Day: CANCELLED

Wednesday 27th March 2024 |

The Spring Crafts Event is cancelled.



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