A Rocha UK
STAY CONNECTED
DONATE TODAY
  • Home
  • What we do
    • Eco Church
    • Wild Christian
    • Partners in action
    • Foxearth Meadows
    • Wolf Fields
    • Target 25
    • Speaker Programme
    • Education Plans
  • Noticeboard
  • Events
  • Get Involved
    • Pray
    • Green Quiz
    • Volunteer
    • Speak up
    • Engage your church
    • Fundraise for us
    • Fundraising FAQs
  • Giving
    • Ways to give
    • Individual monthly giving
    • Bank transfer
    • Standing order
    • Gifts in wills
    • Give in memory
    • Gift Aid Declaration
  • About Us
    • Who we are
    • Our magazine
    • Our resources
    • How we are funded
    • Media Office
    • Work for us
    • A Rocha’s International Network
    • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • What we do
    • Eco Church
    • Wild Christian
    • Partners in action
    • Foxearth Meadows
    • Wolf Fields
    • Target 25
    • Speaker Programme
    • Education Plans
  • Noticeboard
  • Events
  • Get Involved
    • Pray
    • Green Quiz
    • Volunteer
    • Speak up
    • Engage your church
    • Fundraise for us
    • Fundraising FAQs
  • Giving
    • Ways to give
    • Individual monthly giving
    • Bank transfer
    • Standing order
    • Gifts in wills
    • Give in memory
    • Gift Aid Declaration
  • About Us
    • Who we are
    • Our magazine
    • Our resources
    • How we are funded
    • Media Office
    • Work for us
    • A Rocha’s International Network
    • Contact us
A Rocha UK
No Result
View All Result

Spring at Foxearth Meadows

Andy Jowitt by Andy Jowitt
May 26, 2020
in Foxearth Meadows
Reading Time: 3 mins read

The blackthorn blossom was followed by the pussy willow; then the hawthorn and the snowstorm of fluffy willow seeds. Now elder is in flower, reeds and rushes are growing tall and lily pads have appeared on the surface of the ponds and now their yellow flowers are opening.

A Rocha UK’s rural nature reserve, Foxearth Meadows. Image by: Albert Butcher

Joining residents like the Reed bunting (cover image), migrant birds have arrived: martins, swifts and swallows across the Med from Africa and all sorts of the warbler family, which reminds me that I must make more effort to learn their different songs as they are so hard for amateurs like me to identify by sight as they flit into reeds and trees and bushes.

Dragonflies and damselflies are emerging from their watery life as nymphs. Four-spot chasers have been climbing out of their exuviae by the Big Pond and I’ve been watching Hairy dragonfly ovipositing (egg-laying) nearby. Azure and Red-eyed damselfly have been easy to spot doing the same, all hooked up with the male and female in tandem.

Hairy dragonfly. Image by: Albert Butcher

And yes, people have come. Although all organised visits have been off, we’ve had lots of local people find their way to the reserve on their statutory exercise allowance, and enjoying its peace and beauty. I’ve chatted to people (socially distanced, of course) who last came for the official opening three years ago, or who learned about it through local social media; young adults furloughed at work and families with young children, not used to Mum and Dad being off work at the same time and deciding to get out and be close to Nature.

One person who is regularly at the reserve, often from early in the morning, is keen photographer and nature lover Albert Butcher. Foxearth Meadows (and A Rocha UK) have become joyful beneficiaries of Albert’s skill and patience with the camera and his open generosity with the results. We asked Albert to add some words from his perspective:

“Since first visiting the Foxearth Meadows reserve in May 2017 on opening day, I have spent many happy hours watching and recording all kinds of wildlife on this small but very interesting site. There is an abundance of insect life, bird life and plant life. “In the beginning God created” (Genesis 1:1). On my first visit three years ago, I glimpsed a Kingfisher through the trees over the river and have been fascinated by this beautiful bird ever since. I have spent hours, coffee in hand, and camera of course, behind a camouflage net waiting for our most colourful bird to arrive on a perch above the pond. I have not been disappointed or wasted my time as I have hundreds of pictures of kingfisher behaviour. Fish are caught and dispatched, mating dances are performed and speed of flight reflected in dodging a hungry sparrowhawk. All in all Foxearth Meadows is a wonderful haven of wildlife, a thriving reserve and well worth a visit.” 

Two Kingfishers. Image by: Albert Butcher

We hope you are able to visit Foxearth Meadows soon, please remember to keep the reserve including volunteers, visitors and conservation work in your prayers.

Thank you to Andy Jowitt, A Rocha UK’s Volunteer Community Engagement Officer at Foxearth Meadows, and regular Foxearth Meadows visitor, Albert Butcher, for this spring update at A Rocha UK’s rural nature reserve.

Previous Post

Making space to see

Next Post

A given moment

Andy Jowitt

Andy Jowitt

Foxearth Meadows Community Engagement Officer

Next Post
A given moment

A given moment

Noticeboard categories

More from our noticeboard

Journeying towards a zero-waste Christmas
Inspiring individuals and families

Journeying towards a zero-waste Christmas

by A Rocha UK Team
December 1, 2023

Eight years ago, I started living towards a zero-waste lifestyle. People still find it hard to get their head around...

Read more
Embracing rest and renewal this Advent season

Embracing rest and renewal this Advent season

December 1, 2023
Home

Play your part in our Big Green Vision

November 30, 2023
COP28: A Rocha UK’s guide and resources for the Global Climate Summit

COP28: A Rocha UK’s guide and resources for the Global Climate Summit

November 29, 2023
Eco Church reaches 3000 award milestone

Eco Church reaches 3000 award milestone

November 25, 2023
Partners in Action adapt to climate change

Partners in Action adapt to climate change

November 24, 2023
A Rocha UK activities during COP27

COP28: Taking stock of what’s needed on climate and nature

November 18, 2023
Partners in Action: helping people across the nations to access nature

Partners in Action: helping people across the nations to access nature

November 17, 2023
Sunak’s slow down on climate: separating fact from fiction

Sunak’s slow down on climate: separating fact from fiction

October 31, 2023
Nature 2030 Campaign Takeaway [online]

A Rocha UK backs the Nature 2030 campaign

October 31, 2023

Keep up to date

Get in touch

Ask a question

Contact us

Follow us

Don't miss out

Receive our updates

Sign up

Make a difference

Donate to A Rocha UK

Donate
A Rocha UK is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089276) and in Scotland (SC042147) and a company limited by guarantee (4210929) | Privacy | Cookies  | Safeguarding Policy
© Copyright 2022 A Rocha UK. All rights reserved.
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • What we do
    • Eco Church
    • Wild Christian
    • Partners in action
    • Foxearth Meadows
    • Wolf Fields
    • Target 25
    • Speaker Programme
    • Education Plans
    • Advisor Network
  • Noticeboard
  • Events
  • Get Involved
    • Pray
    • Green Quiz
    • Volunteer
    • Speak up
    • Engage your church
    • Donate
    • Gifts in wills
    • Give in memory
    • Fundraise for us
    • Fundraising FAQs
  • About Us
    • Who we are
    • How we are funded
    • Our magazine
    • Our resources
    • Media Office
    • Work for us
    • A Rocha’s International Network
    • Contact us
  • DONATE TODAY
STAY CONNECTED

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.