Summer Flowers
Sunday, August 9th 2015
Thistles have been on the blog recently. Although they are a food source for many bees and butterflies their seeds germinate easily and if left unchecked could cause serious problems. Our thistles include Marsh, Creeping and Spear. Another one was added to the list recently, Melancholy Thistle. This plant was recorded on the species list but has not been seen for several years. It is now growing in two places. Why has it just appeared again? Many suggestions have been put forward but so far we have not arrived at an answer. Hopefully the seeds from these beautiful flowers will spread. We will have to wait until next year. At least we know where to look.
Hemp-agrimony and Agrimony share a name but very little else. Hemp-agrimony belongs to the Daisy family and is pink. It grows in the Scrapes and can still be seen in flower well into September.
Agrimony is a tall yellow plant that belongs in the Rose family. This plant can be seen along the access road.
Earlier in the year Wood Cranesbill was recorded. Meadow Crane's-bill was seen during the last week. Although both belong to the same family the spelling of cranesbill appears to be different!
Purple Loosestrife is showing its flower spikes amongst the reeds in the Scrapes. The arrangement of the stigmas and stamens in different flower spikes ensure that the flowers are cross pollinated by the bees that come to feeed from them.
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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.
More DetailsUpcoming Events
Festive Crafts Workshop (Willow wreaths and Tannenbaums)
Saturday 14th December 2019 | 10.00am - 12 noon
Make a beautiful miniature, decorative Christmas tree or a wreath from natural materials. At the end of this workshop you will have a stunning centrepiece for any festive occasion. Tea/coffee and a mince pie are included. Booking is essential as places are limited. There is a required donation of £15 per person to cover materials and a discounted donation of £10 for Friends of the reserve and Volunteers.
January Winter Worky Day
Saturday 4th January 2020 | 10.00am - 3.00pm
Would you like to get involved for a day and help to manage a habitat for wildlife? Come along and join in with a practical conservation task. Get outside and get some fresh air and excercise (a good opportunity to burn off all of those extra festive calories) whilst doing a good deed! This is a family friendly event suitable for all ages (ideal screen free time)! Booking is essential as a hot lunch is provided. This event is free, all you need is old, warm clothes and a pair of stout boots/wellies.
Undergrowth Newsletter
The Dragonflies of Strensall and Foxglove Covert

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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Recent Blog Posts
- Mud and Marshmallows
- The Lull Before The Storm
- Preparations
- A Mild Winter Worky Day
- Washing Up
- More Woodland Work
- A Mallard Tale on a Frosty Morning
- A Good Frost
- Blue Skies and Redwing
- Keeping Busy
- Woodland Management
- Varied Work
- Around the Reserve
- Richmond Coffee Morning
- A Frosty Day
- A Perfect Autumn Day
- Doing a Good Job
- Extra Help
- Birds, Frost, Fungi and Work
- All About The Birch!
- A Collection of Photographs
- Seeing The Wood For The Trees!
- Woodland Work
- Varied Work
- Autumn Work
- Lichens and Mosses
- Autumn Moves On
- Wildlife Round Up
- Lots of Help
- More Volunteering
- Long Shadows
- Work Experience in the Sunshine
- After the Rain
- Exploring For Fungi
- More Help From Heroes
- Letting In Light
- Autumn Bird Ringing
- Fungi
- Autumn Moths
- The Fascinating World of Spiders
- Variety
- Risedale Rangers Return
- Making More Hay
- Mowing, Mending and Moving!
- A Better Than Good Day
- Storm Repairs
- No Moths!
- State of Nature Report 2019
- Finding the Fence and Learning New Skills
- A Weather Mixture
- Welcome To The Team!
- Wet Weather Work
- Wet and Wild!
- Many Berries
- Autumn Moths
- Appearing Fungi
- A Helping Hand From Yarm School
- A Surprise
- More Warm Sunshine
- Valued Support
- Lake Hide View
- A Mixture of Species
- Foxglove’s Meadows
- More Wetland Maintenance
- Pay and Display
- Meadow Pipit Migration
- Early Autumn Sightings
- Paths, Pipes and Posts
- Moths and Darters
- Wetland Management
- Congratulations!
- All Hands To The Deck!
- Minibeast Safari Day
- Heathland Management
- A Very Hot Day
- More Moths and Butterflies
- One More to Go
- Butterflies, Moths and an Escapee!
- To The Bridge!
- Dividalen Fugelstation
- Meandering Around the Reserve
- Mainly Butterflies
- Before More Rain
- A Wet Day
- Cutting, Strimming, Painting, Sawing and Pulling!
- Cascading Ponds and Risedale Beck
- CES 10
- Flowers and Moths
- Busy Volunteers
- Plenty to See
- Dragons and Damsels
- A Special Visit and a Summer BBQ
- An Insect Day
- Keeping Cool
- Moths and Butterflies
- Sunshine and a Happy Ending
- CES 8
- Exmoor Antics
- Tea Anyone?
- Pheasants and Grouse