2014 UK Orchids (5 Viewers)

[lewis20126]

It should be noted that Natural England does NOT actually manage this site - which is an SSSI and not an NNR (unlike Pewsey Downs). Its owner is a well known writer of West End musicals.

I knew we could pin this on L-W. SSSI managers still have to seek legal consent for changes to management practices. Hard summer grazing would likely IMO constitute such a change and thus require such consent.

cheers, alan

 

[slatts]

I knew we could pin this on L-W. SSSI managers still have to seek legal consent for changes to management practices. Hard summer grazing would likely IMO constitute such a change and thus require such consent.

cheers, alan

Alan, that is really good to know. I'll be in touch with LW and let him know what I think.

 

[JeanetteS]

Manchester and North West

Dear all,
I will be going to Manchester next week and would love to see some of the 'northern' orchids not easily accessible in the South West where I live. Could anyone help me with info regarding e.g. the dark red helleborine in the area (I'm happy to drive for a bit - as long as the family 'let me out').
Also, would I still be able to find Northern march orchids anywhere?
I would be really interested in the Dune Helleborines, too.
Any other ideas?
Thanks,
Jeanette

 

[Bodhyfryd]

Dear all,
I will be going to Manchester next week and would love to see some of the 'northern' orchids not easily accessible in the South West where I live. Could anyone help me with info regarding e.g. the dark red helleborine in the area (I'm happy to drive for a bit - as long as the family 'let me out').
Also, would I still be able to find Northern march orchids anywhere?
I would be really interested in the Dune Helleborines, too.
Any other ideas?
Thanks,
Jeanette

Jeanette, I have sent you some details as requested.

Martin

 

[prevell]

Orchid forum?

This site needs an orchid forum for people who are more interested in chat about orchids than in general plant identification.

Hello Marc,

When the Autumn Lady's-tresses have flowered you won't see any more chat about orchids until next year.

Peter

 

[slatts]

This site needs an orchid forum for people who are more interested in chat about orchids than in general plant identification.

Well I don't really know how you can say that. There is a broad church of people who use this thread, some like to chat about orchids in general and some are greatly interested in their makeup, DNA, and variants. You are always welcome to start your own thread.

 

[dcapper]

With thanks to Slatts for offering up the phone number earlier on in the thread, I saw the Creeping lady's tresses at Whinfell center parcs today. Common in a couple of areas there. The phone number (01768840572) is for their technical support services. I left a ms with someone, and a lady called Sarah called back in under 5 mins. She gave my name to their security at the gate, I drove to her office and she gave me directions to the orchids. All very easy. My impression of center parcs has been enhanced hugely.

 

[ladybee]

Broad leaved Helleborines

Please can anyone suggest a really good site l can visit with lots of BLH, not in Derbyshire.
Thanks

 

[slatts]

Broad leaved Helleborines

Please can anyone suggest a really good site l can visit with lots of BLH, not in Derbyshire.
Thanks

Where do you want to go? I know sites in Oxfordshire and Hants.

 

[ladybee]

Blh

Where do you want to go? I know sites in Oxfordshire and Hants.

Hi Slatts,
OOps - Oxfordshire would be great (or maybe Yorkshire)
Thank you

 

[Chris Hind]

Dark-red Helleborines.
Visited Raisby Hill Grassland, Durham WT reserve yesterday. A rather obscure site with plants growing on a scree area in the south, along to the old quarry at the SW corner. Counted 25+ spikes in a rough transect.
Chris

 

[innazone]

Hello Folks,

Can I introduce myself to this thread, which seems livelier than the HoS forum. I live just down the road from Ladle Hill, and saw the the sheep there on June 19th when the ustulata were just coming up (enc). I was pretty surprised to see them I must say, but assumed that someone knew what they were doing. What a tragedy, they have really suffered from the weather for the last 2 years, and this year were looking fabulous already.

Having visited the site every year I've not seen them eaten by rabbits, although Watership Down is next door of course.

BW

Nick

This is a real shame and particularly gutting once you've completed the long walk up the hill from the road. It shouldn't, however, affect the long-term viability of the various orchid and wildflower populations up there. I think someone posted about visiting the same site in late June saying there were a few Burnts out many more to come so the sheep must be a fairly recent issue.

Mike

 

[The Quiet Man]

Ladle Hill

Just received the attached email from Natural England regarding the grazing regime at Ladle Hill.

'Thank you for your email expressing your concern with regard to the grazing regime on Ladle Hill SSSI

A period of spring grazing was allowed to reduce the amount of grass and other rank vegetation that was present on the site earlier in the year as a result of the mild wet winter. This applied not just to the central section of the hill fort but across other areas of the SSSI. The altered grazing regime is for a single season and will be followed with autumn and winter grazing to retain the short sward. The sheep have been removed and the grazing cycle will revert the late season one. Orchids, as geophytes, will recover and a range of flowering calcareous grassland indicator species along with some burnt-tip orchids can be found on the site

Management of the grassland site does require an active approach and occasionally altering the grazing regime will have long term benefits for different elements of the sward. I can assure you that the spring grazing will not be a standard management practice. I hope that you will be able visit the site next year and spot many different plants'

Yours sincerely

Harold Makant

 

[Xenya]

Hampshire Orchid hunt

Hi, everyone!
I am a new member of the forum, and joined when I saw this brilliant thread for orchid sightings and discussion. I live in Hampshire, and this year I am trying to catch Green-flowered and Violet helleborines, so any information anyone can give me on the best places to find them, and when to see them in flower would be very welcome - or any other orchids of course. Are there any Narrow-lipped in Hants/ West Sussex? I live in Gosport, but can and will travel!
Many thanks in advance,

 

[Simon1953]

Hi, everyone!
I am a new member of the forum, and joined when I saw this brilliant thread for orchid sightings and discussion. I live in Hampshire, and this year I am trying to catch Green-flowered and Violet helleborines, so any information anyone can give me on the best places to find them, and when to see them in flower would be very welcome - or any other orchids of course. Are there any Narrow-lipped in Hants/ West Sussex? I live in Gosport, but can and will travel!
Many thanks in advance,

Xenya,

There is a good site for Green Flowered Helles just south of Newbury beside the A343. I counted c160 plants there last week (down on the 240 or so I counted last year). They still needed a week or 10 days to come into flower - but should be looking good next week.

The GFHs are on both verges of the road - mostly between the gateway (and small layby) into the National Trust's Chase nature reserve and the cross-roads to the South where the minor road to Penwood/Woolton Hill crosses the A343.

Take care if you visit. Wear a high-vis tabard or something as the road is a busy one!

As for Violet Helles - try Telegraph Lane and Blackberry Lane at Four Marks. There are usually several clumps on the verges there. Also the lane near the Garden Centre (I can't remember its name - Garth-something, I think).

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Hello all,

I have finally got internet in my new home, so can get on topof co-ordinating the Ghost ORchid search properly now.

The season is upon us, as we are now in date range for sightings at Marlow.

As such, if anyone is going to the Chilterns for other species, please could I ask if they are willing to put an hour or two in at one of the two nominated Ghost sites, and contact us at www.ghostorchidproject.co.uk to register?

Thanks in advance.

Sean

Sean

 

[ladybee]

Just received the attached email from Natural England regarding the grazing regime at Ladle Hill.

'Thank you for your email expressing your concern with regard to the grazing regime on Ladle Hill SSSI

A period of spring grazing was allowed to reduce the amount of grass and other rank vegetation that was present on the site earlier in the year as a result of the mild wet winter. This applied not just to the central section of the hill fort but across other areas of the SSSI. The altered grazing regime is for a single season and will be followed with autumn and winter grazing to retain the short sward. The sheep have been removed and the grazing cycle will revert the late season one. Orchids, as geophytes, will recover and a range of flowering calcareous grassland indicator species along with some burnt-tip orchids can be found on the site

Management of the grassland site does require an active approach and occasionally altering the grazing regime will have long term benefits for different elements of the sward. I can assure you that the spring grazing will not be a standard management practice. I hope that you will be able visit the site next year and spot many different plants'

Yours sincerely

Harold Makant

A similar thing has happened at a site here - it seems to me that Natural England are experimenting with a different grazing regime this year - it's just that their definition of Spring and Early seems to differ with ours. Obviously they know what they are doing and we're just worry-worts.

 

[rmielcarek]

Violet Helleborines

Although most of the plants at my local site for VH are still in bud, one stem today had a few open flowers.

Also there a couple of plants with variegated leaves.

Rich M

 

[rmielcarek]

Broad-leaved Helleborines?

Although most of the plants at my local site for VH are still in bud, one stem today had a few open flowers.

Also there a couple of plants with variegated leaves.

Rich M

Close to the above there were 3 plants in flower that I took to be Broad-leaved ... but the flowers look pretty clean and not that dissimilar to Violet.

Rich M

 

[Chris Hind]

Some lovely Green-flowered Helleborines in perfect condition at Sandscale Hawes today. The more numerous Dune Helles are going well over with only a few good ones remaining.
Chris