More Tree Talk

Tuesday, November 21st 2017

The volunteers have put in a tremendous effort removing tree tubes from young trees that have outgrown them. The tubes are used to help trees to establish by acting as 'mini-greenhouses' as well as protecting them from being eaten by rabbits and deer. Once the trees have grown enough to emerge from the top of the tubes, the restriction of the tube can cause problems.

Taking the tubes off allows the trees to move in the wind which helps them develop their root system, and a healthy root system will also be able to take in nutrients more efficiently. There are still many areas of planting within Foxglove Covert which will benefit from having the tubes removed, so there is no danger of the volunteers running out of this work. Excellent work by the volunteers!

Following on from the tree inspection yesterday, two trees have been felled today, the first being the Ash described in the blog yesterday, and the second is a large limb of a Willow near to the lake. This was much more tricky as the limb had split after the recent high winds. The strong wind today also meant that, as the tree was being felled, it was being pushed back rather than falling forward, but it came down in the end. This should now allow the other limb to grow without danger of the whole tree splitting, and next year will see the first shoots of regrowth from the stump left behind.

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Access to the Reserve: OPEN with limited access

Monday 18th March 2024 |

The reserve is now open, although again with limited access.

Visitors will be able to access the reserve with the use of key fobs provided at the pass office upon entrance to the camp, or will be provided entrance and exit through the access gate by an officer from the camp Guard Room. In this case visitors will need a mobile phone to call the Guard Room when they wish to exit the reserve.

Please be aware that due to these circumstances, entering and leaving the reserve might take a little longer than usual.