ECO CLUB VOLUNTEER TO PLANT TREES AT FOXGLOVE COVERT

Members of our Eco Club headed to Foxglove Covert on a crisp, frosty morning to spend the day planting trees at the local nature reserve. Foxglove often has volunteering days for members of the community and we were delighted to take the Eco Club along to help out with their tree-planting project.

Foxglove Covert has been a recipient of a Woodland Trust grant of trees to plant at the nature reserve and it was a fantastic opportunity to collaborate and help each other out. Thirteen students from Years 8, 9 and 10 helped to plant 50 maple trees in a newly converted area of the nature reserve – these will form part of the ‘Queen’s Green Canopy’. As well as this, they took part in a guided walk around the nature reserve to learn about the process of ‘bird ringing’, the importance of developing sustainable habitats that allow nature to thrive, but also to ensure that people can enjoy the nature reserve and learn about the fantastic biodiversity of the area.

The students were introduced to the art of identifying different species living in the area via faeces – this was great entertainment!

Connie Spittlehouse, Geography Teacher and Leader of the Eco Club, said: “The students worked really hard planting the trees, demonstrating excellent team work skills and determination, especially in the face of the freezing temperatures!

“The support and expert knowledge from the staff at Foxglove Covert meant that pupils were enthralled all day and we came away with lots of fantastic ideas to instil at school to help our local wildlife. We look forward to returning to Foxglove Covert during the summer season to help with further projects.”

Foxglove Covert is a local nature reserve covering 100 acres of moorland edge adjacent to Cambrai Lines at Catterick and has a remarkable mix of habitats and species. The reserve contains semi-natural woodland, heathland, flower-rich grassland, streams, ponds, a lake, willow and alder carr, coniferous woodlands and wet meadows.

You can find out more about Foxglove Covert here.