Fox Covert Plantation is a six mile drive from Rise Park , but not easily accessible by public transport. Take the A614 over Redhill towards Ollerton and turn right for Oxton. Shortly after passing the Ramsdale Golf Course and Patchings Art Centre, turn left on a minor road (do not worry about the “No Through Road” sign). You will pass a car parking area, but continuing for a further few hundred metres will take you  right to the end of this road, where you can park at the entrance to Fox Covert.

The Reserve is a mixed deciduous woodland and high numbers of fungal species suggest that the plantation was established on the site of woodland believed to be part of the ancient Sherwood Forest . Survey work on moths and other invertebrates has also produced records of species only found in Sherwood Forest woodlands, adding further support to this theory.

The main wood contains predominately oak and birch, with sycamore, sweet chestnut, rowan, coppiced lime and several other species. Rhododendron and bracken formerly dominated areas of open ground, but have been brought under control over the last few years. The reserve is open to the public but visitors should keep to the footpaths to avoid disturbing wildlife

Restoring Sherwood Forest to its former glory

In 2005, the Wildlife Trust carried out a large-scale tree felling operation as part of a 5 year project designed to restore rare Sherwood Forest habitats. Large numbers of non-native sycamore trees were removed in an effort to help recreate an area of acid grassland. The existing oak, ash, birch, and sweet chestnut were retained, and 400 English oak saplings were planted.

Heath bedstraw and wood sage are commonly found in the main wood, and in the grassy ride, three-veined sandwort, thyme-leaved speedwell, harebell, lesser stitchwort, common mouse ear, rosebay willow herb, foxglove and almost 30 other common species can be found. Small areas of bramble and gorse provide habitat for insects and birds and cover for the entrances of the many rabbit burrows. A triangular open area of wavy hair grass is home for the common green grasshopper. Seven other common grasses are found throughout the reserve.

Wildlife In winter, goldcrest, redpoll and long-tailed tit can be seen, with occasional sightings of hawfinch and green woodpecker. In the summer the common woodland species are joined by garden and willow warblers, chiffchaff and blackcap, spotted flycatcher and roding woodcock. If the autumn is wet and mild the wood fills with the fruiting bodies of fungi, including the beautiful fly agaric and many fascinating bracket fungi.