Foxglove Covert Nature Reserve gets cash boost from Natural England
16 August 2010
One of Yorkshire's hidden wildlife gems is set for a make over with help from Natural England
Foxglove Covert Nature Reserve in Catterick Garrison is celebrating a welcome boost from Natural England. This will help pay for improved visitor and educational facilities, so more people can enjoy this much loved wildlife haven.
Funding from Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme will pay for a wonderful new outdoor classroom. It will be kitted out with state of the art equipment, like an interactive whiteboard, microscopes and underwater cameras. These fantastic facilities will help the reserve enhance its strong links with local schools, who visit the reserve on a regular basis.
HLS has also paid for improved visitor access to the site - including a new disability friendly bird hide, access bridge and walkway - so now, everyone will be able to enjoy the sights, feel and sounds of nature when they visit.
Hidden gem
Nestling within the heart of the largest military base in Europe, the reserve covers 94 acres and boasts a wide variety of habitats, including: heathland, a new wetland area, semi-natural woodland and flower rich grassland. These harbour a number of imaginatively named species like pepper saxifrage grass, diamond-back moth and cuckoo bee.
Lucinda Holdsworth of Natural England’s Richmondshire Land Management Team said: ‘It was a pleasure to be a part of this wonderful project. Local people, young and old will enjoy the benefits of these improvements when they pay the reserve a visit.’
The improvement work hasn’t only been structural. HLS has also paid for the re-design and upgrade of the reserve’s web site, making it more informative and user friendly. For the more inquisitive, 50 books are also being added to the reserve’s reference library.
Major (Retd) Tony Crease, on behalf of the Reserve Management Group, said: ‘We have worked extremely hard over the years to make Foxglove Covert a place where wildlife and nature thrive. The works we are undertaking will make the site fully accessible to all and we hope people will be inspired to pay us a visit. Whether you want to bring the kids and try pond dipping, or if you just want to spend a quiet afternoon bird watching, there is something for everyone’
Ends
Note for Editors
Further information
Please contact Howard Botting on 0300 060 2035/077860 28824 howard.botting@naturalengland.org.uk
We will be holding a media call at Foxglove Covert Nature Reserve between 11.30am and 12.30pm on Tuesday 17th August. You will be able to see the bird hide and other access works. Spokes people from the reserve and Natural England will able be available to talk to and there will be plenty of good photo opportunities. Foxglove Covert LNR, Wathgill, Downholme, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL11 6AH. Download a location map - http://www.foxglovecovert.org.uk/pdf/Foxglove_LNR_Map.pdf
About Natural England
Natural England is the Government’s advisor on the natural environment. We work for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings www.naturalengland.org.uk
