Foxglove Covert Local Nature Reserve

In the 1970s, due to an upsurge in terrorism, security was upgraded and razor wire was installed around the perimeter of Catterick Garrison. A section across the north western edge of the camp was bypassed because of its undulating nature. The section was an area of foxholes, slit trenches and gullies that were designed to test tank crews as part of their training. This small area was overgrown and had many moorland streams that came together to form Leadmill and Risedale Becks flowing through it. In 1992, Major Tony Crease of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, realised the potential of the site and was granted 28 acre by the British Army to convert into a nature reserve. Crease made use of…

The reserve is accessed through Cambrai Lines gate at Catterick Garrison, which is guarded by The Royal Lancers. Between 20,000 and 25,000 visitors come each year specifically for the reserve and by the end of 2017, the reserve had recorded over 770,000 visitors in its 25-year history. Foxglove Covert now covers over 100 acre and includes heathland, wetland, moorland, flower-rich grassland and ancient deciduous woodland. The reserve also includes a £350,000 field centre, built in 2002, that has classrooms and bird-ringing rooms with one way glass so as not to disturb the wildlife outside. The centre also has an observation bee hive that can be viewed through clear plexiglass and the local…