El Annie
Phew..............
Today made first visit to nature reserve where I'm hoping to train to become a ringer and also hoping to become involved as a volunteer in the other aspects of the reserve.
A bit about the reserve..........
First discovery was it's whereabouts and it's name!! The reserve is on Ministry of Defence land at Catterick Garrison and is called Foxglove Covert. There's a bit of info about it on the web, but basically Foxglove first became a nature reserve in 1992 when the MOD set aside the land for conservation. Since then this area of land has been transformed into a wildlife haven with over 700 recorded species of plants, birds, butterflies and other animals. In April 2001 Richmondhsire District Council declared Foxglove as a Local Nature Reserve, it is the first LNR on MOD property.
The reserve is spread over about 70 acres with a number of different habitats and a marked trail. It has a brand new purpose built centre within which is the ringing centre itself.
Unfortunately, for security reasons Foxglove is not an open access reserve and access is by prior arrangement only - details available on 01748 875504.
Our task today...................
We met with a Defence Estates Scientist to commence a mammal survey. We learned how to set up the traps, check them, identify and record anything captured within and re-set them. They will be moved around to various habitats and checked twice a day for the next 9 days on a rota basis by reserve volunteers.
First impressions........
I loved it can't wait to get back there on Sunday, learn a bit more about it, empty some of those traps (hopefully without getting lost!!) and maybe get to see my first ringing
El Annie
A bit about the reserve..........
First discovery was it's whereabouts and it's name!! The reserve is on Ministry of Defence land at Catterick Garrison and is called Foxglove Covert. There's a bit of info about it on the web, but basically Foxglove first became a nature reserve in 1992 when the MOD set aside the land for conservation. Since then this area of land has been transformed into a wildlife haven with over 700 recorded species of plants, birds, butterflies and other animals. In April 2001 Richmondhsire District Council declared Foxglove as a Local Nature Reserve, it is the first LNR on MOD property.
The reserve is spread over about 70 acres with a number of different habitats and a marked trail. It has a brand new purpose built centre within which is the ringing centre itself.
Unfortunately, for security reasons Foxglove is not an open access reserve and access is by prior arrangement only - details available on 01748 875504.
Our task today...................
We met with a Defence Estates Scientist to commence a mammal survey. We learned how to set up the traps, check them, identify and record anything captured within and re-set them. They will be moved around to various habitats and checked twice a day for the next 9 days on a rota basis by reserve volunteers.
First impressions........
I loved it can't wait to get back there on Sunday, learn a bit more about it, empty some of those traps (hopefully without getting lost!!) and maybe get to see my first ringing
El Annie