Visit to Foxglove Covert

With transport kindly funded by the Skell Valley Project, a small group of FOHW volunteers undertook a site visit to the nature reserve at Foxglove Covert, Catterick.

Foxglove Covert was one of the Plantlife UK project sites, a project set up to establish and/or improve woodland meadows within existing community sites. The rabbit-proof fenced enclosures you see on Hell Wath were initiated and part funded through the Plantlife project.

Foxglove Covert hosted a Plantlife project meeting and the Trustees thought it would be beneficial for other FOHW members to see what another project site looked like. The group had a very interesting day walking around, discovering and experiencing the different habitats within the 100 acre site. We were fortunate to see a kingfisher on one of the ponds and the site is well know for it’s variety of dragonflies, butterflies and birds.

Foxglove Covert is very different to Hell Wath. There are two full time rangers to look after the site, with the help of many local and army volunteers. Public access to the site is via Catterick Garrison, so visitor numbers are low in comparison to Hell Wath, and boardwalks, crushed stone paths and signposts direct visitors along defined pathways.

Our thanks to SVP and the Foxglove Covert for enabling us to visit. For details of the site and how to arrange a visit please go to foxglovecovert.org.uk