40 places to see

OrchidsA guide to some of the UK’s best orchid reserves Cover: Military orchid (c) Helen Walsh (c) Helen orchid Military Cover:

40 places to see... Orchids For a few short weeks they’re our most beautiful wild flowers. Here’s 9 where to get out and enjoy them this spring and summer. 15 17 4 An exotic and mysterious aura surrounds the orchid, in the case of the bee orchid. It’s alluring appearence and 3 36 lending it the reputation for being rare and hard to find. In scent persuades amourous bees to copulate, thereby 26 37 fact, there are over 50 species of wild orchid in the UK, not transferring pollen to other nearby plants with the aid of 32 including their many hybrids, and in the right conditions, their unwitting admirers. 16 38 35 displays can number in their hundreds. Flowering times differ by species, with many early 14 40 Orchids captured the imagination of our naturalist varieties entering their peak season from May onwards. 7 8 forebears and have been subject to some creative Helleborines generally flower later, extending the season 11 34 28 25 2 31 22 namings, many of which invite the enthusiast to share in into August for the avid orchid seeker. 33 27 the appretiation of their diverse forms. Here we suggest just a handful of Wildlife Trust reserves 5 19 21 18 29 1 12 39 The blooms of many resemble their namesake; man to view wild orchids at this spring and summer. For more 23 30 10 and frog orchids sport trailing legs, lady’s tresses wear information about the reserves listed here, or to find petticoats, and fly and bee orchid share the shape and alternatives near you, visit www.wildlifetrusts.org.uk/ 13 6 20 colouration of insects. This mimicry is famously intentional yourlocaltrust 24 Lady x monkey hybrid orchid Chris (c) Raper Knapp reserve Paul (c) Lane Hartslock reserve 2 Knapp and Papermill reserve 1 Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust Worcestershire Wildlife Trust A fabulous swathe of chalk grassland overlooking the Thames, Hartslock is A corner of old England nestled in the Leigh Brook valley. Popular for its renowned for its hundreds of monkey orchids as well as lady, common scenic beauty and the variety of habitats and wildlife for visitors to enjoy at spotted, pyramidal, and white helleborine. Look out for the unique hybrid any time of the year. The reserve boasts meadows, woodland and orchard lady monkey orchid. The best time to visit is May or early June. habitat. Orchids include green-winged and a display of up to 10,000 Where is it? 7 miles NW of Reading near Upper Gatehampton Farm. OS common spotted orchids. Sheet 175, SU 616 795 Where is it? 7 miles W of Worcester. Grid ref: SO 751 522 Marsh helleborine Les (c) Binns Dark red helleborine Philip (c) Precey Milford Cutting Bishop Middleham 3 4 This small, secluded nature reserve, outside of Armagh City, is an old An old, large magnesian limestone quarry which is noted for its very rich railway cutting with a mix of flowery calcareous grasslands and scrubby flora, characteristic of a habitat that is internationally rare. The site supports woodland. Its sloping grassy banks shelter common twayblade, fragrant pyramidal, common spotted, fragrant and bee orchid and lots of dark red and common spotted orchids, and marsh helleborine - an orchid so rare it is helleborines. Lots of butterflies too. Best visited April to July for most protected by law. orchids or July/August for helleborines. Where is it? 2 miles SW of Armargh. Postcode: BT60 3NY Where is it? 2 miles N of Sedgefield. Grid ref: NZ 331 326

40 PLACES TO SEE ORCHIDS Pyramidal orchid (c) Les Binns New Grove Meadows (c) Gwent WT 40 822 263 NX ref: Grid village. Barrhill Eof 1.5 miles and Stranraer of NE miles 30 it? is Where orchids. butterfly greater and fragrant frog, butterfly, lesser and white small including species nine with farm Ayrshire aworking is It Interest. Scientific Special of aSite as designated is and Ayrshire in grasslands finest the of one as regarded is Meadows Feoch Frog orchid (c) Bruce Shortland it? is Where greater orchids. butterfly and lesser and pyramidal fragrant, butterfly, spotted, common purple, early including species orchid of arange support to help habitats These reserve. diverse this up make woodland and pond meadows, screes, quarries, Old it? is Where occasional broad leaved helleborine. the even and twayblade with along appear orchids spotted common season the in Later orchids. green-winged of numbers large by dominated are fields the month the of end the by and appear orchids purple May,In early summer. early in colour of ariot and meadows, hay old best Britain’s of One 9 7 5 PLACES TO SEE ORCHIDS SEE TO PLACES Feoch Meadows Llynclys Hill Meadows Grove New Scottish Wildlife TrustScottish Trust Wildlife Shropshire 3 miles S of Oswestry. Grid ref: SJ 272 236 272 SJ ref: Grid Oswestry. Sof 3 miles 067 501 SO ref: Grid . Sof 6 miles

4 miles S of Shaftesbury. Grid ref: ST 887 176 887 ST ref: Grid Shaftesbury. Sof 4miles it? is Where orchid. butterfly lesser and fragrant frog, bee, including here found are species orchid Nine months. summer and spring the in wildflowers in covered is slopes lower the of grassland chalk open the while butterfly, of species many for shelter provide woodland and scrub Interspersed downs. north the of slopes upper the on grassland chalk Primarily 2 miles S of Petham. Grid ref: 179T 125 477 ref: Grid Petham. Sof 2miles it? is Where and early-purple, fly other orchids. spotted, common twayblade, of colonies excellent are there and orchid lady for sites best the of one probably is This wildlife. of variety the enhance further to annually mowing by open kept are grassland chalk of areas small Several cap. clay with escarpment achalk on woodland ancient SSSI of hectares 23 Early purple orchid (c) Philip Precey 188 899 SK Grid border. Leics/Lincs on Wymondham of east 5km it? is Where twayblade in June. and spotted common and May in orchid winged green boasts site the SSSI, and Reserve Nature aNational Designated grassland. herb-rich supporting for reknowned Clay, asubstrate Boulder on sits meadow The Common spotted orchid (c) Tom Marshall Fragrant orchid (c) Philip Precey 10 6 8 Fontmell Down Yockletts Bank Cribb’s Meadow Wildlife Dorset Trust Wildlife &Rutland Leics Chettisham Meadow (c) Lorna Parker 40 it? is Where orchids.butterfly lesser and marsh northern see to place agood as well as spot birdwatching aprime reserve this make woodland planted newly and grassland reedbeds, fringing with lakes large two The 2003. in restoration opencast following NWT to passed been having development under still is reserve This Lesser butterfly orchid (c) Philip Precey 307083. SS and 080 302 SS ref: Grid village. Pancrasweek of north miles afew Holsworthy, of NW it? is Where orchid. marsh southern orchid and spotted heath orchid, butterfly lesser rare the as such species orchid key of displays good Supports habitat. pasture heathy marshy, this for site important an and reserves 12 grassland Trust’s Culm Wildlife Devon of One Heath spotted orchid (c) Philip Precey 830 540 TL 143, Sheet OS Downham. Little and village Chettisham between Ely Nof 2miles it? is Where summer. the in later showing orchids spotted common and bee with May and April late in appears orchids winged green- of show Aspectacular acentury. over for meadow hay traditional a as managed been has that grassland neutral of remnant historic An 15 13 11 PLACES TO SEE ORCHIDS SEE TO PLACES Northumberland WildlifeNorthumberland Trust reserve Chevington East Trust Wildlife Devon reserve Dunsdon Trust Wildlife Peterborough and Northants Cambs, Beds, Meadow Chettisham To the E of Red Row. OS Sheet 81, 990 270 NZ Sheet Row. OS To Red Eof the Croydon. Grid refs: TQ381616 &TQ386607 TQ381616 refs: Grid Croydon. Addington, New Crescent, Dean Farleigh or Lane Featherbed it? is Where helleborine. white and twayblade common including orchids with spiked area an Bank, Chapel to you brings also walk chalk the Following and man orchid. spotted common pyramidal, including plantlife, diverse wonderfully hosts Bank Hutchinson’s of slope grassland steep The SK 140 731, respectively. 140 147SK SK 730 119, Trail. Sheet 120 OS SK 727, Monsal the via accessed be can and adjacent lie reserves three All Buxton. of SE the to Valley Wye the In it? is Where orchid. fragrant and bee purple, early spotted, common including orchids, different of avariety for place agood are reserves Valley Wye -the Lees Priestcliffe and Dale Miller’s Dale, -Chee sites of atrio of up Made Priestcliffe Lees (c) Matthew Roberts 470 115 SK ref: Grid House. Thorswood near Stanton of NW 1mile it? is Where withinindustrial heritage the landscape. rich area’s the of evidence and mounds burial age iron find you’ll and lovers history for atreat also is reserve The orchids. purple early see to summer in -visit meadows and heath upland pastures, flower-rich of acres 150 Thorswood (c) Colin Hayes Man orchid (c) Les Binns 16 14 12 Wildlife London Grove &Threecorner Bank Chapel Bank, Hutchinson’s Derbyshire Wildlife Trust reserves Valley Wye The Trust Wildlife Staffordshire Thorswood reserve 40 988 022 TQ ref: Grid footpath. Walk Valley Chess via -accessed Chenies in Lane Doddsmill it? is Where orchids. southern marsh and heath spotted are here thrive that wildflowers the Amongst supports. site the flora varied the in reflected is which areas dry and damp of amosaic is there However, marshy. and damp is and Chess River the between lies meadow The Heath spotted orchid (c) Herts & Middlesex WT 085 875 SO ref: Grid Stroud. Valley, Slad near the of side eastern the on Lies it? is Where seen. commonly less frog and musk fly,green-winged, bee, fragrant, with widespread, are purple early and pyramidal spotted, Common orchid. of 13 kinds including here, thrive wildlflower of species 150 Over butterflies. for site important an and grasslands wildflower finest county’s the of One Fly orchid (c) Philip Precey 086 91, 757 NY Sheet OS Stephen. Kirkby of SW it? is Where orchid. frog and butterfly lesser fly, spotted, common fragrant, marsh, northern including flower species orchid of majority the when is June recorded. plant flowering of species 200 over with flora grassland diverse avery developed have embankments and cuttings The line. railway old an occupies Greenriggs Waitby Waitby Greenriggs (c) Cumbria WT 21 19 17 PLACES TO SEE ORCHIDS SEE TO PLACES Elliott (Swift’sElliott Hill) nature reserve Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust Wildlife & Middlesex Herts Frogmore Meadow Waitby Greenriggs ref: TQ 599 793 599 TQ ref: RM16 Grid 7RG. Thurrock, Grays, Hundred, Chafford Rd, Drake it? is Where helleborine. leaved broad and marsh flowered, green orchid, pyramidal nest, bird’s bee, twayblade, common spotted, common man, including species orchid of avariety boast cliffs, chalk and woodland lakes, large several by dominated quarries, chalk former of acres 200 The N of Clopton and NE of Otley. Grid ref: TM 228 572 228 TM ref: Grid Otley. of NE and Clopton Nof it? is Where saffron. meadow with time this more, once bloom meadows the autumn In orchids. pyramidal and winged green purple, early including wildflowers, of displays superb enjoy can visitors summer, early and spring In grazing. aftermath by followed cut hay asummer by is Managment . in left still meadows hay flower-rich few the among are meadows three These Early purple orchid (c) Paul Lane it? is Where August. in flowering begins which tresses ladies autumn finally and orchid frog musk, pyramidal, fragrant, spotted, fly,common twayblade, common through moving April, in purple early with begins spikes flower of succession The August. to through April from flower in species different with hill the to visitors many draw Orchids Noar Hill (c) Hants & IoW WT Bird’s nest orchid (c) Philip Precey 22 20 18 Wildlife Trust Wildlife Essex GorgesChafford nature park Wildlife Suffolk Martin’s Meadows Trust Wildlife Wight of &Isle Hampshire Noar Hill One mile S of Selborne. Grid ref: SU 742 SU 319 ref: Grid Selborne. Sof mile One

40 337 328 TL ref: Grid Sandon. near End Green it? is Where hybrids. their as well as orchids, spotted common and marsh southern marsh, early of numbers large in covered is grassland marshy the when spring, late in best its At grass. hairs tufted and rushes by dominated are areas marshy The clay. boulder drained poorly on grassland marshy unimproved of areas remaining few the of One Common spotted orchids (c) Herts & Middlesex WT 546 633 SO ref: Grid Bromyard. Wof 1mile it? is Where areas. marshy in orchids spotted heath and spotted common and meadow the of bottom the at soils heavier deeper, the in orchids winged green including flora, rich avery has meadow The Frome. River the of aheadwater Brook, Hackley the to down leading slope west-facing steep arelatively on lies reserve The Green winged orchid (c) Paul Lane it? is Where are amongst its treasures. orchid burnt and marsh southern including orchid of species Several rare. extremely now are which of some but common, once were that plants of aglimpse offer will reserve nature the around Awalk colourful. most their at are meadows wildflower the when June, in breathtaking is Farm Clattinger Burnt orchid (c) Les Binns 25 23 27 PLACES TO SEE ORCHIDS SEE TO PLACES Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust Wildlife & Middlesex Herts Blagrove Common Herefordshire Nature Trust MeadowStockings Trust Wildlife Farm Clattinger 5.6 miles S of Cirencester. Grid ref: SU017 937 ref: Grid Cirencester. Sof miles 5.6 5.9 miles NW of Truro. Grid ref: SW 791 514 791 SW ref: Truro. of Grid NW miles 5.9 it? is Where summer. early to May from seen be can and mauve deep to pinkish-lilac pale from vary spikes flowering multi-bloomed erect Its ground. marshy and wet likes orchid marsh southern The ascrape. and ofmixedwoodland areas hedgerows, Cornish ancient flower-richmeadows, of consists reserve 10-acre This 2 miles SW of Trecastle. Grid ref: SN 853 267 267 853 SN ref: Grid Trecastle. of SW 2miles it? is Where greenweed. dyer’s and asphodel bog of yellows the by followed then are which orchids, spotted heath and spotted common of pinks the with flecked is it spring In plants. colourful of arange to home It’s autumn. to spring from ponies or cattle by grazing with traditionally managed been always has meadow wildflower This Cae Bryntywarch (c) Brecknock WT 956 361 SC ref: Grid Glen. Sulby and Village Ballaugh Between it? is Where bloom. in are twayblade, common and marsh northern spotted, common marsh, early spotted, heath including orchids, of thousands of tens when July to May late from outstanding is meadows hay the of flora The woodland. birch developing and scrub) (willow curragh grassland, marshy meadows, hay damp of consists reserve The Northern marsh orchid (c) Philip Precey Chyverton (c) Cornwall WT 28 26 24 reserve Chyverton Cae Bryntywarch Trust Wildlife Manx reserve Sartfield Close 40 879 720 SU ref: Grid Henley-on-Thames. of NW 4miles it? is Where and violet helleborine. lipped narrow leaved, broad as well as orchid, pyramidal and fly butterfly, lesser and greater nest, bird’s including here, abundance in are Orchids facilities. visitor excellent with year the throughout visit to place A magical Greater butterfly orchid (c) Bruce Shortland 615 378 SP ref: Grid Southam. near Ufton, Sof km 0.5 it? is Where summer. and spring in avisit worth Well orchid. man rare the and spotted marsh and common twayblade, butterfly, including orchids abundant has reserve The quarry. limestone adisused from restored site asplendid is Fields Ufton Man orchid (c) WWT / S Trotter 094 523 SO ref: Grid village. Penallt it? is Where eyebright.. and rattle hay daisy, ox-eye knapweed, of carpet a amidst seen be can twayblade, and orchid butterfly greater including The display continues into summer,when of a other variety appear. orchids, to start orchids green-winged of thousands Later, hedgerows. the in orchids purple early and cowslips of full fields colourful see to spring in Visit Pentwyn Farm (c) Stuart Smith 29 33 31 PLACES TO SEE ORCHIDS SEE TO PLACES Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust Wildlife &Oxon Bucks Berks, Reserve Nature Warburg Trust Wildlife Warwickshire Fields Ufton Gwent Wildlife Trust Farm Pentwyn ref: TQ 238 618 238 TQ ref: Grid Avenue Northey and Road Cheam between Access Sutton. it? is Where broomrape. of species two as well as orchids helleborine white and pyramidal fragrant, spotted, common man, including here, recorded been have plants flowering of kinds 260 Some flora. chalk rich the conserve to and habitats of range the maintain to managed is Hill Howell Between Diss and . Grid ref: TM 306 798 306 TM ref: Grid Halesworth. and Diss Between it? is Where Suffolk. in orchid frog of colony only the with together appear orchid pyramidal and bee, spotted, common summer the in Later orchid. winged green and purple early twayblade, are summer early and spring late in flower to first The orchid. of species seven including grassland unimproved ancient of characteristic plants of range awide supports meadow The Frog orchid (c) Bruce Shortland 953 282 SK ref: Grid Sheffield. of 7.5NW it? is miles Where season. growing the throughout found be can orchid spotted common and marsh Southern area. the in ararity robin, ragged marsh-loving pink bright the as well as here, found be all can orchids and scabious clover, white and red of swathes rattle, yellow –bluebells, colour with abound meadows the sight, common aonce were that fields rich flower the of example A rare Carr House Meadows (c) Sheffield WT Fragrant orchid (c) Philip Precey 34 30 32 Wildlife Surrey Howell Hill reserve Suffolk Wildlife Trust Wildlife Suffolk Winks Meadow Wildlife TrustSheffield Carr House Meadows Southern marsh orchid (c) Amy Lewis 40 918 149 TL ref: Grid Tiptree. near Knights Tolleshunt it? is Where loss habitat of aresult as England in steadily declined has which species the see to Essex in places few the of one site this making June, to April from meadows the across abundant are orchids green-winged of colony Alarge hedgerows. luxuriant wide by surrounded completely almost one larger the meadows, flower-rich two of consists reserve 8acre This Oxley Meadow (c) Alan Brown 653 858 SE ref: Grid Malton. Eof 7miles it? is Where pollinators. attract to bees mimic flowers whose orchids, bee of display abundant an is there years, some in and, occur spotted-orchids and Pyramidal conditions. habitat in avariation provide it of out scooped hollows with cliff-face step and floor Aflat 1940s. the in worked last south-west, facing hectares, four of quarry achalk is reserve The Pyramidal orchid (c) Paul Lane 352 568 SK ref: Grid Wilford. and Ruddington Between it? is Where orchid. marsh southern and twayblade bee, of colonies small and orchid winged green include Orchids recorded. far so species 230 than more with Nottinghamshire in sites wildflower best the of One 8hectares. approximately covers and habitats of variety awide contains cutting railway abandoned interesting This 39 35 37 PLACES TO SEE ORCHIDS SEE TO PLACES Wildlife Essex Oxley Meadow Trust Wildlife Yorkshire Wharram Quarry Trust Wildlife Nottinghamshire Cutting Farm Wilwell

Sheet 97, SD 440 827 97, 440 SD Sheet OS Witherslack. at Kendal and Sands over Grange between Lies it? is Where June. in orchids fragrant and butterfly fly, greater by followed May in cowslip and orchid purple early with starting summer, the throughout flowers of asuccession have grasslands The recorded. species 200 over with plants of variety amazing an to home is Latterbarrow 7 miles south-west of the Lincoln. Grid ref: SK 911 SK 661 ref: Grid Lincoln. the of south-west 7miles it? is Where orchids. marsh southern 9,000 to up with spectacular is Glade Orchid July, the and June In orchids. bee including species orchid of range a supports facilities visitor excellent with pits gravel flooded of complex This The Orchid Glade (c) Geoff Trinder it? is Where orchids. spotted common and bee pyramidal, are here found species the -among midsummer is orchids for period main The wildflowers. of variety wide the of because blue, and white yellow, of mixture avivid are meadows the summer, early and spring In depth. and quality soil varying of because different is meadow each 11 of up fields, Made small Bee orchid (c) Neil Aldridge Latterbarrow reserve (c) Cumbria WT 40 36 38 Cumbria Wildlife Trust Latterbarrow reserve Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Wildlife Lincolnshire Park Nature Whisby Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Meadows End Rose Above Cromford village. Grid ref: SK 293 567 293 SK ref: Grid village. Cromford Above