At first glance this YWT reserve looks just full of yellow flowers , Cowslips Primula veris, Buttercups, both Ranunculus acris and bulbosus, Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor and Rough Hawkbit Leontodon hispidus,. However as soon as we looked more closely we started to appreciate the rich variety of plants, the bright blue of Common Milkwort, Polygala vulgaris, the delicate flower heads of Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata, Pignut Conopodium majus . We also noticed the almost “gone over” Early Purple Orchids Orchis mascula. As we walked up the field we found a few examples of one of the “special” plants of the field, Green winged Orchid Orchis morio, Further up the field these orchids were in great abundance and we could really appreciate their name. The next “special” was a single Burnt Orchid Orchis ustulata, a small specimen but further on 3 plants together, protected by some netting, were fine specimens and brought out the cameras. The note attached to the netting said there were 7 plants on the site. We saw 5, helped by sticks placed nearby!. Nearby were several plants of yet another orchid Common Twayblade Listera ovata. Later in the month there will be yet another Orchid as we saw many examples of the heavily spotted leaves of Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii. As a finale we spotted another orchid in flower, a dense purple spike which caused a lot of debate and keying out and turned out to be Northern Marsh Orchid, Dactylorhiza purpurella.
We’d had a lovely day and seen all the special rare plants that we’d hoped for and the weather stayed fine, What more could you ask for !
Win Clements
The photos are – ending in 95 the Green-winged Orchid, in 48 the Burnt Orchid, in 53, the Northern Marsh Orchid.
